Money laundering is the process by which the proceeds of crime are converted into assets that appear to have a legitimate origin. It commonly involves three distinct phases.
1. Placement: Cash generated from crime is placed in the financial system. This is often the point when the proceeds of crime are most apparent and at risk of detection.
2. Layering: Once the proceeds of crime are in the financial system, layering obscures their origins by passing the money through complex transactions. These often involve different entities, such as shell companies and trusts, and can occur in multiple jurisdictions.
3. Integration: Once the origin of the funds has been obscured, the criminal can make the funds reappear as legitimate funds or assets. They will invest funds in legitimate businesses or other forms of investment. Typically, this is the most challenging stage of money laundering to detect. Laundered funds may be reinvested in almost any type of asset, from property to shares and bonds and even gambling chips at casinos.