7.3.8. Anti–Money Laundering
Money laundering is the process of transforming illegally gained funds into seemingly legitimate funds. It is commonly achieved in three steps:
1. Placement is the depositing of funds in financial institutions or the conversion of cash into negotiable instruments, such as cashier’s checks and money orders. Cash may be routed through “front” operations such as a check-cashing service or jewelry store.
2. Layering is the wire transfer of funds through a series of accounts in an attempt to hide the funds’ true origins. This often involves transferring funds to banks in countries like the Cayman Islands o