Upping the ante – drug precursors and tainted funds

Powder, resin and tablets, the pusher’s end products, depend on a steady supply not only of raw materials, like coca leaf and opium, but also a host of precursor chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Emma Jackson looks around for the money.

Recognising the need

The creation and expansion of international money laundering controls was inspired by the need to track and control dirty money from illicit drug sales. [1] Illegal drug trafficking continues to generate billions of dollars around the world each year, which must be laundered. But most illicit drugs – marijuana is an exception – require some sort of legally available chemical substance, a precursor, for production. Most are produced, sold and used legitimately in, for example, the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint sectors, but they may be diverted.