NEW: The #SuisseSecrets leak shows how powerful African political figures shared accounts at Credit Suisse worth many millions with executives at a Swiss investment fund at the heart of a massive bribery scandal. 1/
occrp.org/en/suisse-secr…
Addax Petroleum burst from obscurity in the late 1990s to take Nigeria’s oil industry by storm, landing one of the most lucrative deals the country had ever seen. 2/
Years later, French court proceedings revealed the firm had secured the contracts by bribing the Nigerian oil minister to the tune of US$5 million. 3/
Now, OCCRP reveals that executives from the firm’s parent company also held secret accounts at Credit Suisse with other powerful West and Central African political figures. The accounts were opened as the company prospered from its operations in the region. 4/
Among them was Umaru Ali Shinkafi, a former Nigerian spy chief and associate of military dictator Sani Abacha, whose ties to the Swiss investment firm have not been previously reported. 5/
Though Addax and Oryx Group, Addax Petroleum’s parent company, claim the holdings were used for “usual business purposes,” experts say they can “hardly think” of any legitimate reason for setting up the accounts. 6/
You can learn more about the #SuisseSecrets project, an international collaboration between OCCRP and 46 media partners around the world, at the link below. 7/
occrp.org/en/suisse-secr…

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More from @OCCRP

Sep 21
BREAKING: German authorities are raiding the Bavarian home of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, looking for evidence of alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

Our latest with @SZ, @NDR, and @WDR 1/

occrp.org/en/asset-track…
@SZ @ndr @WDR Over a hundred officers have descended on Rottach Egern, a small town on picturesque Lake Tegernsee, where Usmanov and one of his sisters own several homes — including this imposing villa — through convoluted offshore arrangements. 2/
@SZ @ndr @WDR The ultra-wealthy Usmanov has been known for his share of the Arsenal football club, his tech investments, and his charitable giving.

But in 2017, a widely-viewed investigation by Russian opposition leader Navalny alleged he gave a large property to then-PM Dmitry Medvedev.

3/
Read 8 tweets
Sep 20
NEW: One of Calabria's holiest Catholic celebrations has long been infiltrated by the ’Ndrangheta, Italy’s most powerful mafia group.

🇮🇹 @Irpinvestigates attended to document the crime group’s influence over this sacred gathering. 1/ occrp.org/en/ndrangheta/…
Every year, pilgrims walk to the sanctuary of Polsi, where the Virgin Mary is believed to have asked a shepherd to build a church dedicated to her more than 1,000 years ago.

But the Polsi event has also long been known as a meeting spot for the region's mafia. 2/
The ’Ndrangheta uses the Polsi sanctuary for ceremonies of its own. For example, in 2009, Domenico Oppedisano was "crowned" head of the group below a statue of the Madonna of the Mountain.

Now, a bust of a priest killed by the mafia sits in that spot. 3/
Read 7 tweets
Sep 7
THREAD: What was it like to be in Bucha during the Russian invasion?

A Telegram chat used by neighbors in the Kyiv suburb gives a glimpse of the day-to-day reality of living — and dying — under Russian occupation 🧵
cdn.occrp.org/projects/the-b…
2) This apartment building, known as Block 17, sits across the street from a glass factory that was commandeered by Russian soldiers.

Reporters obtained a Telegram chat used by the building’s residents to share prayers and critical information as violence raged outside. ImageImage
3) But they also shared memes, traded complaints, and even used the chat to search for a lost cat. Image
Read 9 tweets
Aug 30
BREAKING: Customs officers have raided a network of German companies suspected of selling precursors that could be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons to a Russian firm contracted by the FSB.

Our story below with @ndr, @WDR and @SZ 👇1/
occrp.org/en/daily/16706…
@ndr @WDR @SZ Documents related to the probe obtained by @ndr, @WDR and @SZ indicate one shipment may have included a chemical used to make Novichok, a nerve agent used in the attempted murders of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. 2/
The key German company, Riol Chemie GmBH, made more than 30 shipments to Russia’s Chimmed Group over three years.

Chimmed Group was contracted in 2016 by the FSB, the Russian intelligence agency widely believed to have been behind both attacks. 3/
Read 7 tweets
Aug 26
NEW: The Romanian ATM-skimming group we dubbed the #RivieraMayaGang appears to have operations in Paraguay 🇵🇾

With @ABCDigital 🇵🇾and Contex.ro 🇷🇴 we reveal how some of their loot may have been poured into properties in Brazil. 1/

occrp.org/en/investigati…
In 2020, OCCRP and partners published an award-winning investigation into the gang that stole over $1B mainly from ATMs in Cancun, Mexico.

You can read that below. Today’s investigation explores their alleged Paraguayan operations. 2/

occrp.org/en/how-a-crew-…
Alleged #RivieraMayaGang member Julio César Belmonte do Amaral has been under house arrest in Paraguay for five years. His trial recently began, and he’s accused of helping develop a scam targeting payment terminals at local businesses. 3/
Read 6 tweets
Aug 26
NEW: Meet Inna Yashchyshyn, aka Anna de Rothschild, the Ukrainian grifter who blagged her way into Trump’s Florida residence and mingled with top Republicans after posing as a member of a European banking dynasty.

Our investigation with @PittsburghPG👇1/
occrp.org/en/investigati… Image
Experts say it’s deeply troubling that Yashchyshyn, who’s been linked to a fraudulent charity and other dubious schemes, was able to gain access to Trump’s inner circle at Mar-a-Lago in May last year. 2/
She is currently under investigation by Canadian authorities, and the FBI is asking questions about her business dealings. 3/ Image
Read 13 tweets

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