What is Money Laundering?

Money laundering is typically a three-part process designed to conceal the origin of illegally obtained money and integrate it into the legitimate financial system. Each stage works to “clean” the money.

Placement Stage of Money Laundering

The placement stage is the initial phase of the money laundering process where illicit funds are first introduced into the legitimate financial system. This could involve depositing large amounts of cash into bank accounts, or purchasing a series of monetary instruments (like checks and money orders) that are then collected and deposited into accounts at different locations. The placement stage is tricky for launderers as they try to get the illegal profits into the banking system without attracting attention from financial institutions that are required to report large deposits under anti-money laundering regulations.

Layering Stage of Money Laundering

Once the funds have entered the financial system, the layering stage begins. This phase is the most complicated and often involves the international transfer of funds. Money is moved and diversified through a series of transactions to try to complicate the paper trail and obscure the origin of the money. This might include transferring money between various accounts across different countries, investing in high-value assets like real estate or art, or conducting transactions in high-volume businesses where large sums of money changing hands is common. The goal is to disassociate the illicit money from its source through as many financial manoeuvres as possible.

Integration Stage of Money Laundering

The final stage of money laundering is integration, where the now-distanced funds are reintegrated into the economy as if they were earned legitimately. At this point, the laundered money can be used for investment or consumption without attracting suspicion or scrutiny. Integration tactics might involve purchasing luxury assets, investing in business ventures, or simply spending the money on various expenses that enrich the launderer’s lifestyle. After successful integration, the criminal origin of the funds is obscured, and the money re-enters the financial system as apparent legitimate wealth.

Example of Money Laundering

Imagine a scenario where illicit funds are initially placed by purchasing a series of luxury apartments using a shell company. The funds used are a mix of cash transactions and payments through offshore bank accounts, complicating the trail of money back to its original criminal source.

Next, the layering stage sees these funds moved through a chain of transactions between properties and into a construction firm owned by the same criminal organisation, falsely inflating construction expenses and further obscuring the money’s origin.

Finally, in the integration phase, the cleaned money is invested into a technology startup. This startup then goes public, and the shares sold provide a legitimate return on investment. These returns are now indistinguishable from legitimate gains in the eyes of the law.