Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking: A Question of Understanding the Elements of The Crime and The Use of Circumstantial Evidence

Drug trafficking in the United States generates millions of dollars in cash profits daily. The cash generated from narcotics trafficking usually follows one of two distinct paths. Domestically, the profits are converted into usable currency by disguising the association between the cash and the narcotics enterprise. Monies not spent domestically are transferred back to the nar- cotics source or drug cartel to be enjoyed by the drug traffickers and to provide operating capital for the enterprise.

This conversion and transfer process has become known commonly as money laundering.