What is the stage of money laundering that involves numerous complex transactions?

The stage of money laundering that involves numerous complex transactions is layering. During this phase, the goal is to obscure the origins of illicit funds through a series of financial maneuvers. This might include transferring money between different accounts, converting funds into different forms, or moving assets across numerous jurisdictions. Each transaction acts to distance the money from its criminal source, making it much more challenging for authorities to trace its origin.

Layering is crucial because it creates a complex web of financial transactions that can effectively hide the illicit nature of the funds. It contrasts sharply with the placement stage, where the focus is primarily on introducing illicit money into the financial system. Integration, on the other hand, refers to the final stage, where the laundered money is reintroduced into the economy as seemingly legitimate earnings. Therefore, layering is vital for obscuring the money's origins and for the success of the money laundering process.