Rahapesu

Rahapesu, or money laundering, refers to the process of making illegally obtained funds appear legitimate by moving them through financial systems and various transactions in order to conceal their illicit origin. The aim is to enable criminals to enjoy the proceeds of crime without attracting suspicion or scrutiny.

A typical money laundering scheme is described as having three stages: placement, where criminal proceeds enter the financial system; layering, where funds are moved through multiple transactions and accounts to obscure their origin; and integration, where the funds or assets re-enter the economy as seemingly legitimate.

Common methods include operating cash-intensive businesses, using shell companies or complex corporate structures, trade-based laundering, and real estate transactions. Other channels involve gambling, professional services, and the use of money mules. The rise of digital currencies and other new payment technologies has introduced additional avenues for laundering.

Anti-money laundering (AML) and the prevention of the financing of terrorism (CFT) regimes seek to detect and disrupt rahapesu. Core tools include customer due diligence and know-your-customer rules, ongoing transaction monitoring, and the reporting of suspicious activity. Financial intelligence units coordinate national and international investigations, guided by international standards set by bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and implemented through national laws and regional directives (for example, EU AML directives and the US Bank Secrecy Act).

Impact and challenges: rahapesu can distort financial markets, enable criminal activity, and erode public trust. Effective combat relies on cross-border cooperation, beneficial ownership transparency, and adapting to evolving methods and technologies.