Money Laundering and Organised Crime Harm Study

This research report examines the relationship between money laundering and the harm associated with organised crime in Australia. It utilizes linked data from organised crime groups documented by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and suspicious transactions reported to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. The study aims to assess the social and economic impacts of money laundering and terrorism financing. Key findings indicate that organised crime groups involved in money laundering exhibit a significantly higher likelihood of committing recorded offences and are responsible for greater crime-related harm compared to those not involved in such activities. The report outlines the methodology used to analyze suspicious matter reports and the implications of these findings for understanding the dynamics of organised crime. It emphasizes the importance of financial transaction data in developing a harm index and suggests that reducing money laundering could mitigate the reinvestment of illicit funds into criminal enterprises.