Estimates have found that illicit cash flows account for 2-5% (US$800 billion to US$2 trillion) of global GDP.  Terrorism and crime are business operations requiring inputs — and more importantly, funding — in order to conduct operations.  Due to the illicit nature of these operations, funding must be disguised so as not to reveal its source or intended purpose.  The integration of global financial systems, as well as technological innovation and proliferation, has reduced barriers to threat finance and money laundering while making it difficult for authorities to detect or disrupt these illicit operations.

Drawing from an earlier fact sheet, ASP has produced the following presentation on some basic facts and figures about threat finance and money laundering.