In 1994, four non-Portuguese companies created a joint venture named TSKJ to bid for natural gas contracts in Nigeria. The joint venture was created via three special purpose shell corporations based in the Madeira FTZ. Some of these companies’ directors were Portuguese nationals. TSKJ ultimately secured contracts worth more than USD 6 billion by paying over USD 182 million in bribes to various Nigerian public officials.After the on-site visit, Portuguese authorities added that the three Madeira companies were “special purpose vehicles” (SPVs).