A meaningful distinction can no longer be made between transit and consuming countries because aspects of the drug trade are experienced by most regions. For this reason, international cooperation is more important than ever to minimize the damage illicit drugs cause. An essential aspect of the fight against illegal drugs is an attack upon the profits made by the drug cartels. Traffickers enter the drug business as a quick way to make money. By attacking the financial gains made by drug organizations, this illegal activity can be hurt where it is most vulnerable.
Money laundering allows drug dealers to invest ill-gained funds in legal ways.
Initiatives against money laundering are extremely useful in redirecting the success of this destructive industry. The multimillion-dollar profits from the drug trade have to be laundered daily through the international financial system. The communications revolution, the globalization of financial markets, and a wide range of new technologies have transformed the way we do business. These advances are being used by narco-traffickers for their own benefit. Today, traffickers can transfer drug monies to jurisdictions with few legal obstacles.