What is money laundering?

Money laundering is defined as the process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money. This criminal activity typically involves a sequence of transactions designed to make illicit funds appear legitimate, thereby allowing criminals to access and utilize these funds without drawing attention from law enforcement or financial institutions.

The essence of money laundering is rooted in the attempt to disguise the source, ownership, or destination of money derived from criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, corruption, fraud, or other illegal enterprises. By obscuring the paper trail, launderers can integrate illicit gains into the legal economy, making it challenging for authorities to trace the original illegal activity.

Understanding this definition is critical because it highlights the primary objective of money laundering: to protect the criminal's profits from detection and seizure by law enforcement authorities. This distinguishes it from legal financial activities or actions related to legitimate funds, which would not fall under the umbrella of money laundering.