January 9 2017
Drug traffickers and fraudsters do not simply want to hide their dirty cash. They also want to conceal the origins of their funds in a way that grows as an investment, cleans as much money as possible in a single transaction, and allows them to enjoy the fruits of their illicit activity without worrying about market instability and exchange rates causing future losses. In that sense, real property — especially residential property in desirable cities in a relatively stable market like the United States — is a natural choice. Ultimately, it is this final characteristic of real estate — its potential for exchange in opaque transactions — which makes it so vulnerable to money laundering.