How We Tracked a ‘Fake Prince’ Scammer to his Nigerian Mansion Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-04 | He posed as the Crown Prince of Dubai. She sent him $2.5 million. Then his own partners betrayed him.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh When a successful Romanian businesswoman received a LinkedIn message from someone claiming to be Dubai's Crown Prince, she thought she was being recruited for a humanitarian investment. Instead, she became the victim of an elaborate romance scam that would cost her over $2.5 million.The scammer thought he was untouchable. He was wrong.After his own partners leaked critical information, OCCRP traced the fake prince right to his doorstep — at a newly purchased mansion in Abuja, Nigeria. This investigation reveals how modern romance scammers operate, the millions they can rake in — and what happened when we confronted one man with the evidence that he had destroyed a woman’s life.#truecrimecommunity #scamexposed #investigativejournalism #scammerexposed #nigeria #crownprinceofdubai #truecrimestories #truecrimedocumentary #romania #occrp #organizedcrime #abuja #viral #onlinefraud #internetscam #dubaiprince #financialcrime #bankfraud #cybercrime #africa #police #yahooboys #nigerian #conartist #documentary #catfishing
World Center of Baby: Inside the Collapse of a Surrogacy Agency Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-18 | When commercial surrogacy agency World Center of Baby told clients it was filing for bankruptcy, hopeful parents and pregnant surrogates were thrown into chaos. The agency’s opaque ownership and operations raise questions over its business practices and who was responsible for the human suffering left in its wake.#surrogacy #investigation #worldcenterofbaby
Thousands Protest in Malta After Businessman Acquitted in Journalists Murder Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-17 | Demonstrators in Valletta moved from nearly nine years of vigils to a protest demanding political accountability in response to the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech, the businessman accused of orchestrating the 2017 assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.#malta #justicefordaphne #yorgenfenech
The $160B Deal Bypassing Official Selection Process: What Happened in Bougainville? Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-13 | A Pacific island’s president bypassed an official selection process when he chose an Indian company to reopen a multi-billion dollar mine. He told OCCRP the firm’s managing director offered to pay for his wife's kidney transplant but insisted it had “nothing to do” with the deal.#bougainville #papuanewguinea #india
Exposed: Putins Secret Propaganda Weapon (Teaser) Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-10 | On paper, the Social Design Agency looks like a harmless PR firm. Inreality, thousands of leaked internal files reveal it as a frontlineweapon in Russian hybrid warfare—engineered to fake news stories,stage hate crimes, and flood the West with disinformation. Watch the full documentary on our channel. #putin #russia #propaganda
Exposed: Putins Secret Propaganda Weapon Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-10 | Thousands of leaked internal files expose the Social Design Agency as a frontline tool for Russian hybrid warfare.On paper, the firm looks like a standard PR agency. In reality, investigators have traced its operations to a coordinated effort to fake news stories, stage hate crimes, and flood the West with disinformation. The leaked documents reveal a calculated strategy designed to sow discord and manipulate public perception across Europe.Investigative journalist Martin Laine examines the secret Kremlin playbook behind these operations. The reporting traces the chain of command directly to Vladimir Putin’s presidential administration, detailing how the agency executes false flag operations to destabilize foreign nations. This investigation provides a rare look at the mechanisms of modern propaganda and the state-sponsored actors behind them.Subscribe for more investigations into global corruption and geopolitical influence.CREDITSReporter: Martin LaineProducer: Matt SarneckiEditing/Graphics: Sergiu BregaAdditional Camera: Erik TikanFact Checking: Olena GoncharovaARCHIVE & MEDIAKremlin.ru / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation(CC BY 4.0)Office of the President of Ukraine (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)PublicDomainPictures.net (CC0)France 24 / YouTubeUnited24 / YouTubeMusic Generated with ElevenLabs
What is Happening in Iraq Right Now? Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-07 | Iraq is tracking down billions in stolen cash, gold and rifles as part of the country’s anti-graft campaign. What did investigators uncover? And why is it happening on such a broad scale? OCCRP’s Middle East and North Africa Editor Selma Mhaoud explains.#iraq #corruption #baghdad
Why This West African Country Just Banned Floating Fishmeal Factories Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-09-03 | A Guinea-Bissau fisheries assessment obtained by OCCRP shows that the sardinella — an important food source — has been decimated in the years since two Chinese fishmeal-production vessels set up shop offshore. After the industry was banned earlier this year, the floating factories moved south to Sierra Leone.#guineabissau #economy #china
Accused $2 Billion Telemedicine Mastermind Living in Luxury in Russia Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-08-18 | Brian Sutton, accused of masterminding one of the largest fraud schemes to ever be unraveled in the United States, is living freely in Russia. Among his acquisitions there is a fleet of luxury cars, an elite villa near Moscow, and a stake in an MMA club tied to a member of the Russian parliament. #russia #usa #scammer
Kidnapping & Bribes: The Dark Truth Behind Albania’s AI Minister Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-08-11 | Albania made headlines around the world when it introduced the world’s first-ever “AI minister.” Diella, which means “Sun” in Albanian, was a chatbot that had been promoted to ministerial status. Her remit was to ensure that “public tenders will be 100 percent free of corruption.”But now the agency that developed ‘Diella’ is investigated in a case that involves alleged rigged tenders, a kidnapping, and tens of millions in seized assets. The affair deepens doubts about how artificial intelligence will be used to address the country’s widespread graft problem. #albania #aiminister #diella
Studio Monitori: Inside the Paid Scheme That Deleted Our YouTube Channel Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-08-06 | Hired hands in an underground takedown market are charging up to $5,000 to scrub reporting from social media by filing fake copyright claims. Marika Dudina from the Georgian media outlet Monitori explains how their YouTube channel suddenly disappeared after false copyright claims against three of their videos. Monitori decided to dig deeper - and uncovered how copyright reporting systems have become a lucrative business for censorship.#georgia #youtubecensorship #investigativejournalism
Slim Shady: Inside the Massive Black Market for Weight-Loss Drugs Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-08-05 | You have likely heard of blockbuster weight loss treatments like Ozempic. Now organized crime wants a piece of the action. OCCRP and Piaui found that weight loss drug tirzepatide has become a major black market commodity on the border between Paraguay and Brazil, fueling a rise in armed robberies and smuggling by criminal groups.#weightloss #paraguay #brazil
The Terrifying Truth Inside Cambodian Scam Factories Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-07-30 | What happens inside Cambodia's scam industry? Journalist Vicheika Kann spoke with a survivor who escaped a scam factory after a friend deceived her and "sold" her into a compound for $7,000.Learn more about the techniques she was forced to use to scam people in the US, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore — and how the scam industry is constantly evolving.#cambodia #scamcall #scammer
This Childrens Playground in Fiji is Run by a Violent Korean Cult Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-07-24 | Fiji's biggest children's playgrounds are owned by Grace Road, a group accused of being a violent doomsday cult. OCCRP reporter Meri Radinibaravi explores how the cult embedded itself into Fijian daily life — and speaks to parents about why they still take their children to Grace Road's playgrounds.#fiji #graceroad #cult
What It Means To Be Sicilian Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-07-21 | When Sicilian mafia boss Benedetto "Nitto" Santapaola died in prison earlier this year, OCCRP's photo editor Erika Di Benedetto received a surprising call that revived memories of her childhood growing up in Catania.In this personal essay, she reflects on what it means to be Sicilian — and events that changed the course of her father’s life. occrp.org/en/feature/what-it-means-to-be-sicilian#sicily #italy #mafia
Businessman Who Allegedly Posed as CIA Agent Wooed Indonesian President and His Brother Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-07-17 | A businessman who allegedly posed as a CIA agent cultivated a relationship with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his brother — and secured preliminary agreements from Indonesia’s government to purchase tens of billions of dollars worth of fighter jets and other equipment.#prabowo #indonesia #tempo
Inside the Massive $19M Cocaine Seizure Rocking Liberia Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-07-03 | Nearly a month after Liberian police seized 237.6 kg of cocaine at the country's main international airport, law enforcement agencies are facing heavy criticism over the lack of progress in the case.Journalist Rodney D. Sieh explains more about the massive narcotics bust rocking Liberia, where cocaine that nearly made it to Europe because it slipped past security and moved through the airport's cargo-handling process before being seized.Read the full story occrp.org/en/news/liberian-senate-grills-police-about-19m-airport-cocaine-bust #liberia #DrugBust #occrp
What is a Russian Gas Tanker Doing with Heavy Machine Guns in the Baltic Sea? Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-06-30 | Exclusive photographs obtained by reporters reveal that heavy machine guns have been mounted aboard a tanker that supplies liquefied natural gas to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Why? Investigative reporter Holger Roonemaa discusses the finding, and how it fits into a broader pattern of militarization reporters have exposed on ships carrying Russian fuel. Read the full story by Delfi, OCCRP, Dossier, Helsingin Sanomat, Tagesschau, Follow The Money, Pointer and Danwatch: occrp.org/en/scoop/russia-arms-civilian-tanker-in-baltic-sea-surveillance-images-show #russia #investigativejournalism #nato
Inside Mexico’s Underground Rehab Centers Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-06-14 | In Mexico, if you struggle with addiction, an anexo may be your only option. But this type of makeshift rehab center usually doesn’t have doctors, or even trained staff — it’s run by peers recovering from their own substance use disorders. They call it a spiritual mission. Others point out that anexos are overcrowded, hold residents against their will, and are accused of subjecting them to beatings and other abuses. And behind it all, one of Mexico's most violent cartels found a way in. #mexico #anexo #cartel
Why are Hundreds of Buddhist Monks Being Accused of Child Abuse in Sri Lanka? Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-06-09 | Nearly 300 Sri Lankan Buddhist monks have been accused of child abuse over the last three years, according to data from the country’s child protection agency that was requested by OCCRP. Journalist Saroj Pathirana unpacks the reaction in Sri Lanka, where monks are deeply admired and respected, and criticism of the clergy is often viewed as an attack on the identity of the country’s Sinhalese Buddhist majority.#srilanka #monk #childabuse #news
How Our Investigation into Irish Alumina Sparked an EU Scandal Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-06-09 | Pressure is mounting on the EU to ban the export of alumina to Russia in its next sanctions package. This follows an investigation by OCCRP and partners revealing that Ireland-based Aughinish Alumina has been supplying the critical raw material to Russian smelters — which in turn feed into the supply chains of sanctioned weapons manufacturers whose weapons have been used on battlefields in Ukraine.OCCRP investigative journalist Eli Moskowitz speaks with Conor Gallagher, an investigative reporter at our partner The Irish Times, about the latest developments following the investigation, including heated responses from Irish and European politicians, and what could happen next.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Conor Gallagher’s background and an overview of the collaborative investigation into Irish alumina exports. 00:40 – The Government's Investigation: Discussion on the Irish government's initial reaction and the pushback following the late-March publication. 01:44 – Contested Statistics: Breaking down the debate over exactly how much alumina is still flowing to Russia (83% vs. 51%). 02:34 – Irish Policymakers React: How ministers and the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin have publicly defended the plant. 03:59 – The Swedish Smelter Connection: Inside the Swedish Special Forces arrests at the Kubal smelter and the investigation into Oleg Deripaska’s control. 05:27 – The History of Lobbying: How Ireland and other EU states successfully lobbied against alumina sanctions in 2018 and 2022. 06:55 – Collateral Damage & Environmental Risks: The impact of a potential shutdown on local jobs, the power grid, and the massive red mud ecological risk near the River Shannon. 08:00 – Public Backlash & Hypocrisy: Why the story has kept momentum given Ireland’s strong, active support for Ukraine. 09:03 – The EU Front & Nationalization: Can the EU step in with funding to buy out or nationalize the plant? 11:13 – Can Russia Easily Replace the Supply?: Debunking the plant's lobbying claims that Russia could simply source its alumina from China or India. #ireland #alumina #russiaukrainewar
Leaked Documents Reveal Russian Cognitive Strikes Against Europe Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-06-01 | Leaked documents provide a wealth of new details on Russian destabilization and influence campaigns against European countries — including last year’s Islamophobic “pig head” attack against French mosques, paint thrown on synagogues, efforts to influence the upcoming Armenian election — and much more. They point to the Social Design Agency, a sanctioned PR firm whose work in these areas is overseen by the Russian Presidential Administration.#russia #disinformation #macron
Sky ECC Leak Reveals the Daily Work — and Drama — of an International Cocaine Syndicate Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-05-15 | OCCRP has obtained hundreds of pages of chat logs from an Albanian-born alleged cocaine kingpin who is now one of Ecuador’s most wanted men. The text messages provide an unprecedented glimpse inside the day-to-day operations of a powerful drug-smuggling organization whose corporate-like structure stretched across the Atlantic and shifted large volumes of drugs and money — with support from inside Ecuador’s police and ports. #cartel #ecuador #leak
Lithuanias Former Prime Minister to be Indicted in Criminal Case Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-05-09 | Former Lithuanian Premier Gintautas Paluckas has been stripped of parliamentary immunity to face criminal charges that he holds unexplained wealth. He resigned as premier last year after investigations by OCCRP member center Siena and broadcaster Laisvės TV triggered criminal and ethics probes and sparked street protests. #lithuania #paluckas #news
Inside Romanias Captured Justice System Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-05-07 | In Romania, a viral documentary shook the country to its core. It revealed a “pyramid of power” — a tight circle of elite magistrates who allegedly control the scales of justice.Andrei Ciurcanu, an investigative journalist at RISE Project and OCCRP, explains how the country’s “captured” justice system allegedly works. And he unpacks RISE’s recent investigation, which brought even more attention to the controversy.#romania #justitie #investigativejournalism
TEASER: Banned Doctors Move Across Europe, Leaving Patients Vulnerable Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-29 | Your next hospital visit could be with a banned doctor. Doctors stripped of their medical licenses for serious wrongdoing — including sexual assault — are relocating across borders and continuing to practice. Share this video. It could be the reason someone decides to seek justice.#badpractice #investigativejournalism #uk
New Documentary: Banned Doctors Move Across Europe, Leaving Patients Vulnerable Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-28 | Banned, relocated, resumed work. When patients put themselves in the hands of a doctor, they trust they'll be treated with care. But what happens when that trust is abused? This unprecedented investigation spanning Europe and beyond shows how doctors who have been banned for major wrongdoing, including causing psychological and physical damage to their patients, relocate and pick up their careers. Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Support OCCRP on Patreon ► patreon.com/OCCRPTimestamps:0:00 Introduction1:20 "John" is hurt in the UK but in hospital he suffers abusive treatment03:57 Dr. Stan. is struck off but moves to Romania to practice06:12 In Germany, a patient learns of his surgeon's past abroad07:17 In Norway, a patient loses his leg08:24 The Norwegian Health Authority finds the amputation was the result of serious medical errors09:26 German medical groups call for a national doctors register10:23 How OCCRP built and analysed the datasets behind this project10:48 Researcher David Ilieski discusses the data gathering and analysis and the availability of the data across EuropeRead more at: https://shorturl.at/xKPvGFollow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP#badpractice #investigativejournalism #romania #norway #unitedkingdom #germany #occrp #viral #documentary #datajournalism #doctors #medical
Truth Has a Price in Mexicos Cartel War #journalism #mexico #cartel Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-24 | What is it really like to live and report from the heart of Mexico’s cartel conflict? From the streets of Culiacán to the battlegrounds of Guanajuato, women journalists share the harrowing reality of life under the shadow of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG. In a world where school protocols include shooting drills and cars with explosives, they refuse to let this violence become the 'new normal.'
Protagonista Ep 9: Atanas Tchobanov | How the Bulgarian Mafia Sold Weapons to the Pentagon Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-20 | Atanas Tchobanov, a Bulgarian investigative journalist and founder of the portal bird.bg, has gotten used to threats and surveillance. His articles touch on the Bulgarian mafia, oligarchs, state security, and the international arms trade.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps:0:00 From Cleaning Windows to Investigative Reporting4:12 Investigating a Bulgarian KGB Agent Who Nearly Joined the EU Commission5:24 Exposing Pentagon Weapons Sent to Syrian Rebel Forces via the Bulgarian Mafia11:55 US Embassy Warns Atanas About Threats to His Life17:30 Telling His Family About the Threats18:30 Returning to Normal Life20:40 Bulgarian Politicians Buying “Discounted” Real Estate23:10 Bulgaria Is Slowly ChangingIn the interview with Pavla Holcová, he recounts how the Bulgarian mafia sold the Pentagon outdated weapons intended for scrapping. These weapons then made their way to Syrian rebels. Atanas also explains why he became an enemy of oligarch Delyan Peevski and what it means when someone places a plush wolf or a Bulgarian hat on your car parked in front of your apartment in Paris.Atanas openly describes his most important cases—from fake arms export certificates, to politicians' apartments bought for ridiculous prices, to the warning phone call that changed his life. And he also tells why he continues to write about Bulgaria from exile, even though he knows that a murder contract on him might cost only ten thousand dollars.Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP
The Message of a Lebanese Journalist to the World Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-17 | A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has gone into effect today, following weeks of warfare that saw Israeli strikes kill more than 2,000 people, according to the government of Lebanon. Over 1 million people, including hundreds of journalists, were also displaced, among them our colleagues at Daraj, an OCCRP member center in Beirut. Hala Nouhad Nasreddine, head of the investigative unit at Daraj, describes the plight of Lebanese journalists who have continued to report amid these dangerous circumstances. #beirut #israel #lebanonwar
This Southeast Asia Country is at Risk of Becoming a Scammers’ Paradise Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-15 | AB is a new blockchain network that recently partnered with the Trump family’s crypto firm. But an investigation by OCCRP and Guardian Australia found that one of the projects AB has promoted — a proposed crypto technology resort in Southeast Asia — involved people sanctioned by the U.S. last year for ties to the Prince Group, an alleged multi-billion dollar fraud syndicate.#trump #princegroup #timorleste
Behind the Scenes: OCCRP Discusses Hungarian Media under Viktor Orbán Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-11 | As Hungary heads toward elections amid persistent warnings of Russian interference, what’s really happening inside the country’s media landscape?In this clip from a longer interview, OCCRP Senior Editor Ilya Lozovsky and co-founder Drew Sullivan discuss the state of Hungarian media under Viktor Orbán — and what it means for democracy. #hungary #orbán #magyar
Protagonista Ep 8: Szabolcs Panyi | The Hungarian Journalist Watched by Orban Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-10 | Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, who was accused of treason by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the lead-up to Hungary’s latest elections, speaks about what happens when the state begins using military tools against its own reporters.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps:0:00 Investigating rapes with political ties7:39 Investigating Russian operations in Hungary11:27 First story that drew attention of secret services17:00 Working under state surveillance22:30 How Szabolcs learned about the spyware on his phone28:15 Discovering the database of journalists surveilled by Pegasus34:20 The cost of surveillance for the state37:25 Recovering from paranoia after experiencing surveillance39:22 Calling the government official who tested Pegasus on his phone42:40 Why journalists should not be surveilled45:50 What people get wrong about investigative journalismSzabolcs Panyi has reported for years on Russian influence operations in Hungary. In the lead-up to the 2026 election, the Hungarian government accused him of espionage, including spying for Ukraine, and filed criminal charges against him.In an interview with Pavla Holcová, Editor-in-Chief of investigace.cz, conducted prior to this latest smear campaign against him, Panyi speaks about the major cases involving corruption and Russian influence that he has worked on.He describes the moment he discovered he was among the targets of surveillance using Pegasus spyware, and what it was like to find his name in a database alongside mobsters, politicians, and other journalists"I felt pride, shame, shock. But above all, adrenaline. And in a certain twisted sense, even a feeling of happiness," he says.This episode is a raw testimony about fear, anger, determination, and professional obsession. It is about what happens when an investigative journalist encounters a system that is democratic in name only.Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP
Protagonista Ep 7: Paul Vugts | Investigating “Narco-terror” in the Netherlands Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-04-05 | Dutch journalist Paul Vugts has been following events in the Amsterdam underworld for more than 25 years. He writes about drug gangsters, contract killings, and the global cocaine business. He faced death threats, had to leave his home, and lived with his future wife under the protection of an elite police unit in a strictly guarded security regime. Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh What Paul and Pavla talked about:0:00 – What does it mean to be a criminal reporter?3:10 – Rules: What journalists should not report about criminals4:05 – The Mocro Mafia and the Marengo trial7:28 – How Ridouan Taghi and the Mocro Mafia built cocaine routes to Europe12:00 – How Ridouan Taghi was captured in Dubai16:13 – Killings linked to people connected to reporting on Taghi18:10 – Escalation of attacks on lawyers in Amsterdam20:15 – New trend: Collaboration between different criminal groups22:15 – “Narco-terror” in the Netherlands24:50 – Does Paul Vugts feel fear—and why he continues27:05 – The moment a criminal saved Paul’s life33:55 – Living under high-security police protection42:50 – “Test beer” before leaving the protection programFollow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP
Protagonista Ep 6: Anna Babinets | Investigating Zelenskyy & Yanukovych’s Offshore Accounts Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-29 | Ukrainian journalist Anna Babinets revealed how former President Viktor Yanukovych spent billions in public money on a residence with a sauna, diamonds in the elevator, and an ostrich farm.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps:00:00 Beginning of career: investigating Ukrainian army03:58 Visiting Yanukovych’s palace11:15 Hiring scuba divers to recover documents14:58 Drying Yanukovych documents in a sauna16:00 Weirdest findings in Yanukovych’s residence20:23 Destroyed documents: tracing Yanukovych’s wealth22:32 Panama Papers: findings about Poroshenko26:15 Backlash after Poroshenko investigation28:43 Storytelling challenges30:00 Slidstvo co-founder Dmytro Hnap runs for elections35:00 Scandal over journalism award funds39:47 Why Zelensky doesn’t like Slidstvo.info42:00 Zelensky’s offshores and Kolomoyskyi connection43:00 Russian invasion begins51:00 First wartime investigations: identifying soldiers52:20 Kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia59:20 How journalists helped bring them back1:04:30 Journalists as "enemies of state"She helped launch the Yanukovych Leaks project, searched the Panama Papers for offshore structures of former President Petro Poroshenko—and in the Pandora Papers, she stumbled upon companies of the current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy connected to oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi.After the start of the Russian invasion, Anna Babinets prepared her newsroom of investigative journalists at Slidstvo.Info for work in war conditions. People slept in the office, cats ran among the sleeping bags, and reporters went out into the field immediately after military attacks. Five of her journalists now serve in the army—some as analysts, others in combat units.In the interview with Pavla Holcová, Anna speaks not only about war journalism but also about the verbal attacks she experienced after publishing sensitive cases. She explains why, at a time when war is raging around them, the newsroom continues to deal with the topic of corruption and why silence harms more than the truth.Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP#podcast #ukraine #russia
The Covert Operation Against Hungary’s Opposition Party Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-27 | Our Hungarian member center, Direkt36, published stories this week that have shaken the country ahead of upcoming elections. They reported from inside the covert operation against the opposition party threatening Viktor Orbán’s rule and revealed how secret services tried to sabotage any investigation into it. We spoke with Zsuzsanna Wirth and András Pethő — our colleagues who broke what politicians are calling Hungary’s Watergate.#hungary #orbánviktor #direkt36 #tisza
The Convicted Kosovar Bank Burglar With a Cameo in Drakes Video Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-26 | Before his appearance in a Drake video, Hamdi Lataj was convicted in the U.S. of conspiracy to commit bank burglary. He has also been investigated — but doesn't appear to have been charged — in Canadian organized crime cases. #drake #investigativejournalism #behindthescenes
Protagonista Ep 5: Eoghan Macguire | When Bellingcat Reveals What the Army Hides Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-22 | When soldiers on European bases forget to set privacy in a flashcard app, secret information about nuclear weapons can appear on the internet. That is how one of the cases worked on by Eoghan Macguire, editor-in-chief of the server Bellingcat, began.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps:00:00 Events that brought Eoghan to journalism04:38 What “Bellingcat” even means06:40 Investigating U.S. airstrikes in Syria07:36 Reporting without people on the ground09:11 Investigating the assassination of an Al Jazeera journalist15:10 The effect of watching disturbing content (on vs off the job)17:17 How journalists decide if exposing someone serves the public interest20:05 Tracking the world’s most wanted men in Dubai26:30 Finding classified info about U.S. military bases via Google35:55 Can Bellingcat “nerds” tell a story?44:17 We're “never enough” — how do you deal with it?Eoghan explains how Bellingcat is reshaping journalistic practice: without people in the field, but with an analytical team that combines public data, satellite imagery, social networks, and detailed geolocation. In the interview, you will learn how they found the online trail of wanted cartel boss Christopher Kinahan, why they had to inform NATO before publishing an article about nuclear bases—and what it means to do investigative work when you are constantly one step ahead of those you are exposing.The episode shows the power of digital journalism that crosses borders while requiring neither a passport nor a visa. What is it like to analyze a video of a journalist's murder? Where does the line lie between truth in the public interest and responsibility for its impact? And how to work with data when you know that those who would prefer none of this ever be heard are also reading you?Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP#podcast #osint #bellingcat
How Epstein Became a Fixer for the Worlds Most Powerful #epsteinfiles #exposed Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-17 | Jeffrey Epstein leveraged his private network to help global figures navigate legal crises or secure entry into institutions that had previously barred them. Here’s a snippet from recent OCCRP findings on how Epstein turned criminal liability into institutional access — from efforts to free the son of Senegal’s former president after a corruption conviction to arranging a job for a romantic partner at a top U.S. think tank. #epsteinnetwork #investigativejournalism
Protagonista Ep 4: Wojciech Cieśla | On the Trail of the Explosion That Shook Europe #nordstream Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-15 | In September 2022, an explosion occurred at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Someone blew up the pipelines of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which supplied Europe with Russian gas. The news went around the world, but there was desperately little information—there was only talk of a rented yacht and an unknown crew. An international team of journalists embarked on a search. One of them was Polish reporter Wojciech Cieśla.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh 00:00 Becoming a journalist at the “wrong” time03:36 First investigation: the “Noisy Club” and its powerful guests06:43 How Wojciech begged editors to pursue corruption investigations09:15 Quitting daily news because of football players11:20 Investigating the Nord Stream explosions23:40 Recreating how explosives were planted on Nord Stream25:55 Why Poland was not collaborating in the investigation27:00 The importance of human sources28:40 How flaws in the Nord Stream operation helped journalists identify those involved33:30 The biggest mistake of Wojciech’s lifeWojciech Cieśla, in cooperation with journalists from Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, mapped the route of the yacht Andromeda, uncovered fake companies and straw men—and gradually pieced together a mosaic that led all the way to a group from Ukraine. Key, however, was also the inaction of the Polish authorities—as well as the question of whom they were trying to protect.In the interview with Pavla Holcová, Wojciech Cieśla speaks not only about the details of working on one of the biggest European cases of recent years but also about a professional mistake that destroyed his reputation, and also about how hard it was to rebuild it. An episode about the power of journalistic cooperation, the courage to ask uncomfortable questions—and about a sea where some ships prefer not to turn on navigation.Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP#attack #podcast #behindthescenes
Spies, Lies, and Video Clicks: How Pro-Russia #disinformation Works #russia Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-12 | An impoverished Bulgarian "on-paper owner," a convicted German far-right firearms trafficker, and a digital trail leading to the FSB. Read the full OCCRP investigation for an insight into how global disinformation works: occrp.org/en/feature/spies-lies-and-video-clicks-the-warped-world-of-pro-russian-disinformation-in-europe #propaganda #investigativejournalism #spies
The Rapper Set to Become PM: Balen Shahs Nepal Election 2026 #balenshah #shorts Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-11 | Nepal will have a new prime minister — 35-year-old Balendra Shah, an engineer, rapper, and former mayor of Kathmandu, whose popularity surged during the recent protests. Why did he become so popular? And can he fix Nepal’s struggling economy and deeply entrenched corruption? Rajneesh Bhandari, head of the Nepal Investigative Multimedia Journalism Network (NIMJN), explains. #nepal #nepalelections2026 #balen #balen_shah_today_news
Protagonista Ep 3: Eva Jung | One Letter. One Hundred Thousand Transactions. One Bank Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-08 | Danish investigative reporter Eva Jung describes how she went from an inconspicuous anonymous tip to uncovering the biggest financial scandal in the history of Denmark—massive money laundering through the Estonian branch of Danske Bank.Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps:0:00 - How Eva chose a career in journalism3:20 - Investigating abuses in the Catholic Church7:00 - Inside the Berlingske investigative desk7:46 - Do journalists know their colleagues better than their partners?8:36 - The Danske Bank scandal explained14:58 - How to spot red flags in banking transactions18:28 - The mail tip that started the investigation26:16 - The “fishing” trips investigative journalists take32:30 - Investigating the Azerbaijan Laundromat38:35 - Transactions linked to Yanukovych and Putin’s family41:10 - Precautions during major investigations48:40 - Consequences of the Danske Bank investigation55:20 - How much work goes into one storyDuring a multi-year investigation, she and her colleagues had to evaluate over 100,000 bank transactions; she traveled across Europe and gradually uncovered a network of money flowing from Russia, Azerbaijan, and other countries to European politicians, arms dealers, and authoritarian regimes.How do you recognize a suspicious transaction? How do the backstage pressures of big banks work? And what happens when, during an investigation, you touch upon the family of Vladimir Putin?#investigativejournalism #danskebank #putin Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP
How One Cat Image Helped Us Investigate Irans Money Machine #osint #crypto #investigation Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-04 | You’ve heard of OSINT — but what about CATINT? A photo of a cat posted on a crypto exchange’s Telegram channel helped us uncover new proof about who was behind it — an Iranian financier sanctioned for providing financial backing for the Iranian regime.
Protagonista Ep2: Patrizia Schlosser | Deepfake, Shame, and Anger Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-03-01 | Patrizia Schlosser’s reporting delves into neo-Nazi networks, far-left Red Army Faction extremists and the dark online economies built on revenge and deepfake pornSubscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps:00:00 – How Patrizia Schlosser Got Into Journalism02:35 – First Investigative Story: Left-Wing Extremism04:05 – How Patrizia Tried to Disguise as a Nazi for a Story07:05 – Starting Reporting on Revenge Porn11:00 – Filming Herself to Get Inside Porn Perpetrators’ Community12:58 – Confession of a Perpetrator14:14 – Talking to the Victims Who Didn’t Know They Were Filmed in Toilets16:00 – How Patriarchy Makes Victims’ Lives Worse19:00 – How Porn Is a Huge Money-Making Machine22:25 – How AI Will Enhance the Porn Industry and Worsen the Problem24:10 – How Patrizia Found Herself on a Porn Website32:09 – Patrizia Meeting the Mom of the Person Who Fabricated Her Nude Images34:40 – How She Copes with Watching So Much Disturbing Content37:20 – Andrew Tate and Other Men Who Promote Violence Toward Women40:50 – Videos Are Just the Tip of the IcebergThe moment Patrizia began researching abuse and so-called revenge porn on the server xHamster, Patrizia Schlosser stumbled upon a global network that, besides publishing footage of unsuspecting women, also generates huge profits. To get to the people who systematically film their victims, she decided to upload her own "material".Patrizia speaks openly about what it means to be a journalist in a patriarchal world. How difficult it is to approach victims, but also what it was like when her own face appeared in deepfake pornography. She shares her thoughts on shame, anger, and her work to uncover the founders of the largest porn platforms, whose profits disappear into offshore structures.A strong, unpleasant, but important episode about the abuse of power, and also about what to do when you yourself appear in the material you are currently professionally investigating. An episode about an investigation that touches even upon what should have remained private.Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrp Facebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.org Tik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.org LinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-project Twitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP#investigativejournalism #behindthescenes #podcast
Ukrainian Journalists in the Harshest Winter of War Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-24 | Today marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We spoke with Slidstvo investigative reporter Yanina Kornienko about the harsh realities of her work with almost no electricity, sleeping in ski pants, and being unable to take a shower — and how she still managed to keep her sense of humor.#ukraine #ukrainewar #ukrainecrisis
Violence in Mexico After Military Kills Drug Cartel Leader El Mencho Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-24 | Investigative reporter Jonny Wrate breaks down how the conflict erupted, the possible role of the U.S., and what could come next. #mexico #news #elmencho #cartel
Protagonista Ep 1: Stevan Dojčinović | A Reporter Between the Mafia and the Government Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-22 | What does it mean to report in Serbia, where the boundary between political power and organized crime is fading, and perpetrators of violence are celebrated on national television?Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh Timestamps0:00– How the Punk Scene Led Stevan to Investigative Reporting3:40– Crime in the Balkans: Why It Plays a Defining Role in the Region6:20– Serbian Crime Group’s Slaughterhouse in Belgrade13:55– How Crime Groups in Serbia Became Tied to the Government20:06– How Corruption Enabled the Killing of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić26:00– Why Relationships Between Organized Crime and the Serbian Government Are Stronger Than Ever28:38 – Best TV Interview with Serbian Organized Crime Boss29:45 – How Serbian Judge Delayed Sentence Because of a Reality Show32:13 – The Zemun Clan: Stevan’s Investigation that Angered the Government the Most38:20 – Pain and Soul-Searching41:38 – Years of Tabloid Smear Campaigns Against Stevan44:00 – The Mental Toll of Reporting on Organized CrimeIn a candid interview with Serbian investigative journalist and OCCRP regional editor Stevan Dojčinović, we gain insight into what it means to report from his country. Dojčinović describes the deep ties between Serbia’s mafia clans and the political establishment, and reflects on years of investigative work in which he was surveilled, smeared, and branded an “enemy of the state.”Protagonista is a podcast series hosted by investigative journalist and OCCRP regional editor Pavla Holcová, featuring personal in-depth conversations with top European reporters on the failures, challenges, drama, and absurdities behind some of their biggest investigations.The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) is one of the largest investigative journalism organizations in the world. A mission-driven nonprofit newsroom, OCCRP partners with other media outlets to publish stories that lead to real-world action. The project was created with the contribution of Dystopic Requiem Quartet and Árpád Soltész, directed by David Dusa and produced by Emilie Blézat (Dark Riviera & Sciapode). Protagonista is a War Room Content project, a partnership between Dark Riviera, investigace.cz, Sciapode, Reporters Without Borders, YLE, NeedCompany, the Segerstedt Institute University of Gothenburg, Serial Killer, SerienCamp, co-funded by the European Union.Follow OCCRP Instagram ►► instagram.com/occrpFacebook ►► facebook.com/OCCRP.orgTik Tok ►► tiktok.com/@occrp.orgLinkedIn ►► linkedin.com/company/the-organized-crime-and-corruption-reporting-projectTwitter ►► https://x.com/OCCRP
Protagonista Podcast - Behind the Scenes of Investigative Journalism Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-20 | New episode drops every Sunday at 6pm CET. Subscribe to OCCRP on YouTube ► https://shorturl.at/BSzsh OCCRP brings you Protagonista - a new podcast series hosted by investigative journalist Pavla Holcová, featuring personal in-depth conversations with top European reporters on the failures, challenges, drama, and absurdities behind some of their biggest investigations.Watch here starting Feb 22nd: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmiP83F9_FxojmTbvIgDnjUJ89zz1fXk9#podcast #behindthescenes #investigativejournalism
The Mayor Fighting Organized Crime in a Small Dutch Town Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-15 | For 15 years, the mayor of the small, quiet town of Echt in the south of the Netherlands has been fighting organized crime.#organizedcrime #truestory #investigativejournalism
Reporter Who Exposed Dubai Prince Scammer Answers Your Questions Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 2026-02-10 | Our new documentary, How We Tracked a ‘Fake Prince’ Scammer to His Nigerian Mansion, hit more than half of million views. The reporter behind the investigation answers your questions. #nigeria #dubaiprince #truecrimecommunity #scamexposed #investigativejournalism #scammer
