There are both low-level and high-level corruption. Low-level corruption is the naive version that is handing over actual notes to officials to have small thing

There are both low-level and high-level corruption. Low-level corruption is the naive version that is handing over actual notes to officials to have small things get through the system. High-level corruption is a lot more subtle and transparent than asking for tea money, circling around anywhere where any people have some political power. The high-level kind of corruption is firmly rooted in western countries as well. It might actually be easier to fight the low-level corruption because the tea money is clearly and undeniably out there, and such blatant bribery is easy to judge. On the other hand the high-level corruption isn't supposed to even exist. The status quo will tell us that there's very limited corruption in many western countries. Further, no physical notes ever change owners but instead agreements, benefits, rewards, slices of power, changes of opinion, and political agendas get from one side to the other. And all that can be put under the cover of public relations as usual. It's just public relations between those who have money and an agenda and those who have political or journalistic or whatever power. Seemingly everything is immaculate. In reality, it's as dirty as it can be.