Britain would provide specialist fraud and money-laundering investigators to an international anti-corruption unit which could be set up to find and seize hidden cash.
The agency, which will be proposed by David Cameron at a global anti-corruption conference in London next week, would gather and share information among law enforcement agencies about illicit flows of money among criminals and corrupt individuals.
The plan is being put forward by Britain and the US, who want the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) to host it.
However, it could be resisted at the meeting by countries angry that western nations are lecturing the rest of the world about corruption while providing the property and luxury goods markets through which corrupt individuals launder their money. Nigerian groups have already asked Mr Cameron to stop the London property market being used as a vehicle through which corrupt officials can launder millions of pounds.
Anti-corruption campaigners also fear that the presence of a Russian delegation will water down the plan.