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Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Money laundering

6.Money laundering is the process by which the proceeds of crime are converted into assets which appear to have a legitimate origin, so that they can be retained permanently or recycled into further criminal enterprises. It was first criminalised in the United Kingdom in respect of the proceeds of drug trafficking, by means of an offence in the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986. Further drug money laundering offences were subsequently enacted, together with separate offences relating to the proceeds of other criminal conduct and terrorist funds. At the time of introduction of the Act, there are five sets of money laundering offences in force, each applying to a different range of predicate offences and/or jurisdictions.

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