> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tools.osintnewsletter.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tools.osintnewsletter.com/osint-tools/offshore-leaks-database.md).

# Offshore Leaks Database

| **Offshore Leaks Database** | **Quick Overview**                                                                                                   |
| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| URL                         | <https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/>                                                                                    |
| What it does                | Searches leaked offshore company records linked to individuals, companies and intermediaries.                        |
| How to use it               | Search by person, company, address or offshore entity, then review connected records and network relationships.      |
| Cost                        | Free.                                                                                                                |
| Account required            | No.                                                                                                                  |
| Cookies                     | A mix of Google Analytics cookies and site preference cookies.                                                       |
| Ownership                   | International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Washington D.C.                                        |
| Use in Reporting            | Supports investigations into hidden assets, beneficial ownership, financial crime, corruption and sanctions evasion. |

### What does Offshore Leaks Database do?

Offshore Leaks Database brings together data from some of the world's largest offshore finance leaks, including: Panama Papers, Pandora Papers, Bahamas Leaks, Offshore Leaks and Lux Leaks (selected corporate leaks).&#x20;

Rather than providing financial records or bank balances, it reveals corporate structures and documented relationships extracted from leaked files.&#x20;

**The lowdown:** It’s particularly valuable for tracing ownership chains, identifying shell companies, and understanding how assets may be held across multiple jurisdictions.&#x20;

### How to Use:

**1. Enter a person's name, company, offshore entity, intermediary or address into the search bar.**

<img src="/files/OA44UdYxrhdhHxPnvfWs" alt="" height="179" width="602">

**2. Explore connected records including linked companies, directors, beneficial owners, shareholders, registered agents, jurisdictions, and associated addresses.**

<img src="/files/lkR0Zt6HSixDItXlOV82" alt="" height="481" width="602">

**3. Cross-reference your findings, using multiple independent sources (Companies House, OpenCorporates, sanctions lists etc) before drawing conclusions.**

### Cost

* [x] Free
* [ ] Partially Free
* [ ] Paid

## Data Processing

### Account Required:

* [ ] Yes
* [x] No

### Cookies:&#x20;

The site uses a mix of Google Analytics cookies and site preference cookies.

### Use in Reporting

Offshore Leaks Database has been widely used to:

* Support investigations into beneficial ownership by identifying individuals linked to offshore companies, trusts and foundations.
* Help uncover hidden corporate structures and relationships between companies, intermediaries and jurisdictions.
* Assist in tracing cross-border financial networks, particularly where assets are held through multiple offshore entities.
* Corroborate findings from company registries, court records, sanctions lists and land registries.
* Provide investigative leads for reporting on corruption, tax avoidance, sanctions evasion, money laundering and financial secrecy.

As a real world example, researchers at Dartmouth College and collaborators used [Offshore Leaks Database](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.03371) to analyse the offshore networks of Russian oligarchs and their professional intermediaries, concluding that targeting wealth managers may be more effective than sanctioning individuals alone.

**Note:** The database is commonly used alongside other OSINT resources rather than as standalone evidence.

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="261"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Capabilities</strong></td><td><strong>Limitations</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Searches millions of leaked offshore records from multiple major investigations.</td><td>Contains only information present in leaked datasets, not all offshore entities.</td></tr><tr><td>Maps relationships between individuals, companies, trusts, and intermediaries.</td><td>Data may be historical and not reflect current ownership.</td></tr><tr><td>Identifies potential beneficial ownership and corporate control.</td><td>Inclusion in the database does not indicate wrongdoing or illegal activity.</td></tr><tr><td>Reveals offshore jurisdictions and registered service providers.</td><td>Some records contain incomplete, inconsistent, or outdated information.</td></tr><tr><td>Provides interactive network visualisations, simplifying complex ownership structures.</td><td>Does not provide banking records, transaction histories, or financial balances.</td></tr></tbody></table>

### Summary

Offshore Leaks Database is most valuable during the research, enrichment and verification stages of the OSINT workflow, when you’re seeking to identify links between individuals, companies and offshore entities. It works best when combined with company registries, sanctions databases, court records, procurement data, land ownership records and corporate intelligence platforms.

### Ownership

Owned and maintained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a global network of investigative journalists specialising in cross-border investigations into corruption, financial crime and public accountability. They’re based in Washington D.C and are headed up by [Gerard Ryle](https://www.icij.org/journalists/gerard-ryle/), who has served as Executive Director since 2011.

### Ethical Considerations

* Presence within the database should never be presented as evidence of criminal conduct.
* Verify all findings using independent, authoritative sources before publication.
* Consider the age of leaked information and whether ownership has changed.
* Respect privacy, proportionality and applicable data protection legislation.
* Ensure reporting reflects legitimate uses of offshore entities as well as potential misuse.
* Attribute information appropriately to the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database and relevant investigations.

### Related Tools:

* [OpenCorporates](/osint-tools/opencorporates.md)
* [Companies House](/osint-tools/companies-house.md)
* OCCRP Aleph
* [OpenSanctions](/osint-tools/open-sanctions.md)
* [LittleSis](/osint-tools/littlesis.md)

#### Sources

<https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/>&#x20;

<https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/pages/about>&#x20;

<https://www.icij.org/journalists/gerard-ryle/>&#x20;

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Ryle>&#x20;

<https://twitter.com/ICIJorg>&#x20;

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-consortium-of-investigative-journalists/posts/?feedView=all>&#x20;

<https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.03371>