For seven individuals, the data source was from Panama Papers while for the rest, the source was Offshore Leaks. 

 

 

The ICIJ put the detailed data from the Panama Papers trove on more than 200,000 secret offshore companies.

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The searchable database built on just a portion of the documents leaked from the Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca reveals more than 360,000 names of individuals and companies behind the anonymous shell firms, the ICIJ said.

 

Also called the ‘structured data’, these are names for which identity proofs and addresses are available in the Mossack Fonseca documents. 

 

They contain basic corporate information about companies, trusts and foundations set up in 21 jurisdictions including Hong Kong and the US state of Nevada. The data was obtained from Panamanian law firm Mossack Foneca, which said it was hacked.

 

The ICIJ said it put the information online "in the public interest" as "a careful release of basic corporate information" as it builds on an earlier database of offshore entities.

 

The documents, first leaked in the first week of April, show the myriad ways in which the rich can exploit secretive offshore tax regimes. Twelve national leaders are among 143 politicians, their families and close associates from around the world are known to have been using offshore tax havens.

 

Using offshore structures is not entirely illegal though.