Money laundering is the process of disguising the origins of illegally obtained money by passing it through a complex sequence of transactions or financial institutions. It is a crime that is often associated with organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Money laundering is a global problem, estimated to involve hundreds of billions of dollars a year. There are three main types of money laundering. The first is placement, which is the process of introducing illegal funds into legitimate financial institutions and businesses. The second is layering, which is the use of complex financial transactions to obscure the original source of the funds. The third is integration, which is the process of disguising the proceeds of crime as legitimate income. Money laundering is illegal in most countries, and can be punishable by fines or imprisonment. It is important to understand the legal implications of money laundering, as well as the methods used by criminals to launder money. It is also important to recognize the signs of money laundering, such as suspicious financial transactions, and to report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.