Photo by St. Peteresburg Police Department
December 4 - 7
"International Anti-Corruption Champions"
US Department of State
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) & IVLP
Special Initiative
Colombia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Panama, The Gambia, Uganda
For the third consecutive year, World Partnerships was honored to welcome the "International Anti-Corruption Champions" to the United States prior to receiving their awards from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, DC. Seven IVLP visitors from Colombia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Panama, The Gambia, and Uganda engaged in a series of interactive, substantive workshops led by local and Federal law enforcement and the judiciary, all focused on the anti-corruption theme of the project.
|
In partnership with the St. Petersburg Police Department, this year's project featured interactive presentations by: St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway examined best practices in combating corruption, preserving transparency and ensuring accountability at the state and local levels of government and law enforcement. Mr. John Condon, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (Tampa) discussed the role U.S. Homeland Security Investigations plays in identifying, disrupting, and dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and HSI's criminal investigations into the illegal movement of goods, money, technology, people, and contraband into and out of and throughout the United States. Mr. Robert. E. O’Neill, Managing Director, SI Global, provided an overview of his experience as a former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and discussed public corruption cases he has investigated and prosecuted. And closing out the program, Mr. Robert Mazur, author, and one of the world’s leading experts on financial crimes. There is no one with more first-hand knowledge about how international markets launder nearly $2 trillion in criminal proceeds annually. For years undercover, in the eyes of organized crime leaders he was a highly successful mob connected money launderer that helped manage their illicit fortunes. He spent five years as a deep undercover agent for US, UK, French and other government law enforcement, gathering evidence that led to some of the largest money laundering prosecutions in history. The only undercover agent in the world to have infiltrated so deeply into the inner circle of financial crime, his experience is unique. Mr. Mazur graciously signed copies of his latest book, The Betrayal, for our group.
|
|
Special thanks to St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch for his personal welcome and comments to the anti-corruption group amidst massive recovery and cleanup efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and to everyone in the Tampa Bay hospitality industry who were so welcoming to our group. We also applaud the great work of our partners from World Learning in Washington, and to the outstanding work of our interpeters and international liaisons for this program.
Anti-Corruption Champions Awards Ceremony, December 9, 2024
Washington, DC
|
Listen to Secretary of State Antony Blinken describe the inspirational work of the 2024 Anti-Corruption Champions and the reasons for their selection as awardees. In addition, the awardee from Gambia speaks for the group about the importance of this recognition to the furtherance of their work in their countries. As Secretary Blinken noted "Each of our awardees has made hard choices in order to be useful to their fellow citizens and to citizens everywhere. We are all better for their efforts, for your efforts. To all of our Champions, thank you. Thank you for your extraordinary work, for your courage. We are honored to be your partners in this fight."
|
|