money laundering | Definition

Money laundering refers to the process of disguising the proceeds of criminal activity as legitimate funds, intending to conceal the illegal source of the money.

In the context of criminal law, money laundering involves a series of transactions or activities designed to hide or legitimize illegally obtained funds.

The process of money laundering usually involves three stages:

1. 1. 1. Placement: This is the initial stage where illegal funds are introduced into the financial system, usually through deposits or transfers into banks, businesses, or other financial institutions.
      2. Layering: This stage involves a series of complex transactions and movements of funds to create a complex web of transactions that make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace the original source of the funds. This could involve multiple transfers between accounts or businesses, international transfers, or other means of disguising the source of the funds.
      3. Integration: This is the final stage of money laundering, where the illegal funds are reintroduced into the legitimate economy as seemingly legitimate funds. This could involve investments in real estate, businesses, or other assets or simply spending the money on luxury items or services.

Money laundering is a serious criminal offense and is often associated with organized crime, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities. It is punishable by significant fines and imprisonment, and law enforcement agencies worldwide are constantly working to detect and prosecute money laundering activities.