To read this content please select one of the options below:

Blindingly obvious and frequently exploitable: Money laundering through the purchasing of high-value portable commodities

Nicholas Gilmour (Centre for Defence and Security Studies, New Zealand Police, Wellington, New Zealand)

Journal of Money Laundering Control

ISSN: 1368-5201

Article publication date: 2 May 2017

503

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the openness and specific techniques through which illicit funds generated by criminals are moved, transferred and laundered in the financial arrangement retained using high-value portable commodities in the UK and internationally.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents exploratory findings from research conducted between 2011 and 2013 in the UK. The research undertaken sought to identify the process, steps and vulnerabilities behind money laundering via high-value portable commodities and highlight the explicit facilitators enabling this method of money laundering to take place.

Findings

Despite significant research into money laundering typologies, the use of high-value portable commodities has remained largely untouched regardless of the increased implementation of anti-money laundering policies and procedures seeking to halt the depositing of illicit cash into the global financial system. This paper demonstrates how high-value portable commodities are extremely vulnerable to money laundering despite the large-scale anti-money laundering efforts focused on combating money laundering across a broad range of sectors.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is of value to government policymakers, regulators and financial institutions considering future preventative measures. It is also of value to financial investigators and law enforcement agencies intent on investigating money laundering. While the paper relies on data from the UK, the overall findings are such that wherever high-value portable commodities are present, so too does the opportunity for money laundering through the financial arrangement retained by high-value portable commodities.

Originality/value

This paper presents new research on the direct link between high-value portable commodities and money laundering in the UK despite significant research having previously taken place to identify and develop money laundering typologies.

Keywords

Citation

Gilmour, N. (2017), "Blindingly obvious and frequently exploitable: Money laundering through the purchasing of high-value portable commodities", Journal of Money Laundering Control, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-08-2016-0035

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles