Money laundering as a crime only attracted interest in the 1980s, essentially within a drug trafficking context. It was from an increasing awareness of the huge profits generated from this criminal activity and a concern at the massive drug abuse problem in western society .

Governments also recognised that criminal organisations, through the huge profits they earned from drugs, could contaminate and corrupt the structures of the state at all levels.

Money laundering is a truly global phenomenon, helped by the International financial community which is a 24hrs a day business. When one financial centre closes business for the day, another one is opening or open for business.