THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE CRIME OF MONEY LAUNDERING

Abstract

The issue of money laundering has become one of the most pressing topics attracting the attention of policymakers, particularly those concerned with monetary and banking policies at both the regional and global levels. This phenomenon encompasses all funds derived from crimes or unlawful acts. Money laundering is a complex and multifaceted crime, consisting of several interrelated stages, each of which in itself constitutes a crime—starting with the predicate offense that generates illicit funds, followed by concealment or possession, and finally their management through investment in local projects or conversion into foreign currency to facilitate their transfer abroad. It is evident that the success of money laundering operations necessarily depends on two key factors: administrative corruption, and the absence or weakness of laws that regulate and provide criminal protection for the movement of liquid assets, along with their monitoring domestically and internationally. The significance of this research lies in clarifying both the conceptual and procedural dimensions of this crime, in addition to highlighting the international legal framework that supports this study