Laundering of proceeds of crime

The degree of data comparability between the reporting cycles is restricted, as not all questions remained comparable, because of fine tuning of the questionnaire following the first reporting period and the fact that not all countries replying to the questionnaire for the first and second reporting periods did so for the third reporting period.

Two countries from each of these regions responded to the questionnaire.

(j) States should consider sharing expertise with other States in the global effort to comply with international treaty obligations and the measures for countering money laundering adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session.

States in which it is a criminal offence to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking, by region (those responding in both the second and the third reporting period)

Laundering of proceeds of other serious crimes considered a criminal offence

Maintaining statistical data on seized proceeds of money laundering

Maintaining statistical data on confiscated proceeds of money laundering

Adam B. Schiff, in the 23 March 2004 proceedings of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, 108th Congress, 2nd session, Serial No. 74, p. 15.

Another underlined the importance of the work of the Global Programme against Money Laundering in supporting activities to combat money laundering, in particular through its mentoring programme. Information was also provided on the confiscation of assets and proceeds of crime and the sharing of such proceeds.

Mexico indicated that its Federal Department of Public Prosecutions had concentrated its efforts on the development of an integrated strategy for the adequate planning and direction of investigations of money laundering cases. The Russian Federation has set up a Police Investigation Office to make the prevention of laundering of proceeds more effective.

Governments were invited to report whether their relevant authorities maintained statistical data on confiscated proceeds as a result of legal action taken to combat money laundering.

Several speakers called for a renewed focus on the prevention and control of money laundering and the confiscation of criminal proceeds, with a view to impeding criminals from disguising and benefiting from their ill gotten gains.

Regarding money laundering, the law is silent on criminalization although under national drug laws, it is considered an offence to launder drug money and (a uniform law on money laundering is currently being drafted).

Governments were asked to report whether their relevant authorities kept statistical data on the results of legal action taken to combat money laundering, such as data on seized proceeds.

Parties to the 1988 Convention are required to establish money laundering as a punishable offence and to adopt the measures necessary to enable the authorities to identify, trace and freeze or seize the proceeds of drug trafficking.

Most States replying to the questionnaires (88 per cent) indicated that laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking was a criminal offence in their jurisdictions, in accordance with the provisions of the 1988 Convention (see figure I).

Other States (8 per cent) reported that they were in the process of adopting legislative measures that dealt with the laundering of proceeds of drug trafficking in order to meet the target date of 2003 established by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session.

Money laundering

Money laundering

Women returners

Countering money laundering

Sami cleaned the dishes.

Countering money laundering

Countering money laundering

Money laundering

Most reporting States (88 per cent) indicated that laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking was a criminal offence in their jurisdictions, an increase of 8 per cent over the results of the first and second reporting periods.

Most States (88 per cent) reporting in the third biennial report questionnaire, for the period 2002 2004, had adopted legislation criminalizing the laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking, an increase of 8 per cent since the first reporting cycle.

Criminalization of the laundering of proceeds of crime

Measures to combat money laundering

Measures to prevent money laundering

Sami brainwashed Layla.

Sami finished washing the windows.

(b) Countering money laundering

Countering money laundering

(m) Criminalization of money laundering

Laundering proceeds derived from other serious crimes was a criminal offence in 76 per cent of the States reporting in the third reporting period, while a further 8 per cent reported they were planning to introduce legislative measures to do so.

Special rules on proceeds

They can see short term returns, but they do not understand very well how those returns are generated.

My father made me wash the car.

Tom washed his face and hands.

I just finished the dishes.

Sami finished washing the windows.

(g) Measures to combat money laundering

International Maritime Organization