Economist.com | Corruption in Latin AmericaA success story for the American Patriot Act (it's not all bad news). In this case, the US has been able to seize the proceeds of corrupt South American officials that are in the USA. Money from such asset seizure is being returned to the central American countries from which it was stolen. This is facilitated by relaxed rules for the admission of evidence that is gathered clandestinely (such as by an intelligence service).