Greed drives the criminal. The criminal transforms the monetary proceeds from criminal activity into funds with an apparently legal source. Therefore, money laundering is the legitimization of proceeds from any illegal activity.
Money laundering has devastating social consequences.
Money laundering extends far beyond hiding narcotics profits. Trade fraud, organized crime, arms smuggling, child pornography,and other criminally defined offenses all contribute to a money laundering epidemic that knows no borders. Financial investigations are essential if we are to beat the criminals at their trade. Although they are often long and complex investigations, following the money trail often allows law enforcement to identify and dismantle international criminal networks. In fact, we have had more experience in the field of combating money laundering than any other law enforcement agency.