Working Paper 14: Using money laundering investigations to fight corruption in developing countries

Domestic obstacles and strategies to overcome them

Authors

  • Pedro Gomes Pereira
  • Alessandra Fontana
https://doi.org/10.12685/bigwp.2012.14.1-18

Keywords:

anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, Albania, Tanzania, financial investigations

Abstract

Anti-money laundering systems have the potential to curb the use of proceeds of corruption and other crimes by the perpetrators. An effectively implemented anti-money laundering framework limits the channels through which illicit funds can be laundered, making crime riskier and reducing the incentives for corrupt activities.

However, those who stand to benefit from corruption have strong incentives to block anti-money laundering programmes. In addition, these programmes face significant obstacles to effectiveness in most developing countries. Relevant institutions do not trust each other sufficiently to share information necessary for investigations. Counties lack qualified staff and necessary resources, and slow bureaucratic procedures are unable to keep up with the speed of financial transactions.

This paper explores these and other domestic obstacles and suggests strategies to overcome them, based on an analysis of the situations in Albania and Tanzania.

Cover page of Working Paper 14

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Published

2012-12-01

How to Cite

Gomes Pereira, P. . and Fontana, A. (2012) “Working Paper 14: Using money laundering investigations to fight corruption in developing countries: Domestic obstacles and strategies to overcome them”, Basel Institute on Governance Working Papers, (14), pp. 1–18. doi: 10.12685/bigwp.2012.14.1-18.