Dirty Money

Dirty money is useless if criminals cannot spend it. From the cash economies of Prohibition and the fortunes generated by the international drug trade to offshore companies, property, professional facilitators and cryptocurrency, Dirty Money tells the history of the machinery built to separate criminal wealth from the crimes that produced it. Tracing the rise of modern money laundering across banks, shell companies, international trade, casinos, luxury assets and global financial networks, this book explains how organised crime learned to exploit the legitimate economy-and how investigators responded by learning to follow the money. It follows the creation of money-laundering laws, FATF, financial intelligence units, suspicious transaction systems, beneficial-ownership rules and asset confiscation, while examining major banking failures, offshore leaks and the growing battle over financial secrecy. Dirty Money is the story of a contest that has lasted for generations: criminals creating distance between themselves and their wealth, and investigators trying to close it. Disclaimer This book is an independent work of historical and educational non-fiction. References to individuals, companies, financial institutions, organisations, products and trademarks are made solely for factual and historical purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship or affiliation. Allegations, investigations, charges and regulatory actions are distinguished from convictions and established findings wherever applicable. Nothing in this book constitutes legal, financial, tax or investment advice.