Kunle Aderinokun
Nowadays, it is easy for money to flow across borders and this connectivity between international financial systems promotes economic growth, but it also gives rise to a global problem referred to as Illicit Financial Flows (IFF).
Illicit Financial Flows are financial flows that are illicit either by virtue of their origin (stemming from organised crime), their utilisation (to finance terrorism) or the nature of the transfer itself (money laundering).
Interestingly, the effects of IFFs are particularly devastating for developing countries and increasingly undermine international efforts to promote sustainable development.
Undoubtedly, criminal activities associated with IFFs, such as human trafficking or the illegal trade in drugs, destabilise countries and regions and thus increase the risk of violent conflicts.