Russell Thomas joined the Basel Institute on Governance in August 2025 as Senior Specialist, Financial Investigations. Russell is based in Ghana, where he is working with anti-corruption and economic crime authorities. He is delivering a programme of our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, and support legal and policy reform to develop Ghana’s asset recovery regime.

As a law enforcement practioner Russell comes with more than 32 years of professional experience working in law enforcement operations and intelligence in the UK and across numerous international jurisdictions.

Before joining the Basel Institute in August 2025, Russell was working for the United Kingdom National Crime Agency as an International Liaison officer based in Karachi, Pakistan. Amongst other portfolios Russell had a specific focus on developing bilateral cooperation to support anti-money laundering and serious organised crime investigations.

From 2017 to 2019 Russell worked as an International Liaision Officer in Afghanistan, providing specialist advice to the office of the Attorney General in establishing an Office of Asset Recovery.

His work combatting transnational organised crime has included deployments in Lithuania, Mali and Ireland.

He previously worked in Counter Terrorism Intelligence developing a deeper understanding of illcit finance flows supporting global terrorist organisations.

Russell gained experience in capability delivery whilst an instructor within United Kingdom National Police Training, delivering a criminal law syllabus to probationary officers within the England & Wales Police service. This included investigative interviewing, an area he remains passionate about.