The effects of corruption are multi-dimensional, with consequences in political, economic and social aspects of life at all levels and in all countries.
Corruption undermines the legitimacy of governments and creates a fertile ground for organized crime and terrorism, potentially de-stabilizing communities.
Corruption is often responsible for
• The diversion and misallocation of resources from much needed projects such as schools, hospitals or roads;
• conversion of public wealth to private and personal property;
• inflation;
• imbalanced economic development;
Illegally obtained funds from corruption are also laundered and moved around the world through a variety of methods to avoid detection, often before being re-integrated into legitimate businesses and the economy.
Private individuals, companies, organizations and nations are all affected by financial crime, with the Internet facilitating the ease with which these crimes are committed, often in a country far away from where the offender logs in.
At INTERPOL, we work to combat all financial crimes through the global exchange of information, supporting operations in the field, and bringing together experts from the sectors concerned.
We work closely with regional and international organizations to identify trends and responses and to avoid duplication of effort, which is essential in dealing with financial crimes where time is of the essence.
Law enforcement can only take action within a strong legal framework, not just to identify and arrest those responsible, but also for the recovery of assets illegally taken from public purse.
INTERPOL plays a unique role in assisting its 190 member countries address these truly international challenges. Its global specialized tools and network can identify links which may otherwise go unnoticed, and more importantly help law enforcement on the ground locate criminals who may otherwise remain at large.
