Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Using Police Reports to Monitor Money Laundering Developments. Continuity and Change in 12 Years of Dutch Money Laundering Crime Pattern Analyses

  • Published:
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article is based on 4 Dutch Crime Pattern Analyses on money laundering reports. These reports are part of a four-yearly cycle that provides a periodic overview on organized crime in the Netherlands. The reports cover a time span of 12 years, starting from 2004 till 2016. During this time period, stricter anti-money laundering laws and more awareness of, and subsequently, attention to the profits of organized crime, had led to a growing number of confiscations and convictions for money laundering. Although the Crime Pattern Analyses on money laundering reports are unsuitable to study displacement effects or other situational changes (lacking precise data), they are useful as a tool for comparison and further policy research. Findings show that several changes in money laundering methods and new types of facilitators did occur. Technology is the biggest driver behind the identified changes. However, it also turns out that over the years the same money laundering methods keep returning. In such cases, no innovation was found. Even with the advent of digital opportunities and crypto currencies, cash was still extensively used. The continuity in money laundering methods suggests that the risk of detection is quite low or the consequences are negligible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. But one of the four criminologists was later sued privately by a defendant claiming that his identity, although anonymized, was too easily recognizable.

  2. The 2006 report is only in hardcopy available at the Police Academy of the Dutch National Police (https://vubis.politieacademie.nl/webopac/vubis.csp). The other reports are free to download at either www.politie.nl or www.politieacademie.nl

  3. Venkatesh also published the findings of a study on a drug selling gang’s finances, carried out in collaboration with economist Levitt (Levitt and Venkatesh 2000). The backbone of this study was the gang’s bookkeeping records. This type of material is unique for field research, but can be more easily found in police files.

  4. In a private conversation with the author, a field researcher mentioned that as soon as the topic turned to money, his subject became more guarded.

  5. In other countries, such as Italy, PSPs are subject to national licensing and AML-obligations.

  6. Other descriptions can also be found. For instance, the FATF/OECD (2013) calls them HOSSPs: Hawala and Other Similar Service Providers.

  7. Online gambling was not legal in the Netherlands during the research period 2004-2016. Due to its illegal nature it could not be used as a money laundering method.

  8. From a theoretical perspective, it can be argued that illicit money that remains in the criminal economy, is not money laundering. The legislative view, however, regards any activity carried out with illicit money a money laundering crime.

  9. Compare this to a top-level criminal bitcoin exchanger who stated during an investigation that his peak months involved a turn-over of 1.8 million euros (which, by the way, was delivered in cash).

  10. Riccardi and Levi (2017) report that police authorities in some countries prefer seizing cash because of profit motives, i.e., they are allowed to keep part (or all) of the proceeds. In the Netherlands, however, confiscations benefit the national treasury, not particular agencies.

References

  • Algemene Rekenkamer. (2013). Bestrijden witwassen: stand van zaken 2013. Den Haag: Algemene Rekenkamer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boerman, F., Grapendaal, M., Nieuwenhuis, F., & Stoffers, E. (2017). Nationaal dreigingsbeeld 2017: Georganiseerde criminaliteit. Driebergen: Dienst Landelijke Informatieorganisatie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullock, K., Clarke, R. V., & Tilley, N. (Eds.). (2010). Situational Prevention of Organised Crimes. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Europol. (2015). Why is cash still king? A strategic report on the use of cash by criminal groups as a facilitator for money laundering. The Hague: Europol.

    Google Scholar 

  • FATF. (2003). 40 Recommendations. Paris: Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

    Google Scholar 

  • FATF. (2008). Best practices paper on Trade Based Money Laundering. Paris: Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

    Google Scholar 

  • FATF. (2012). The FATF recommendations: International standards on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism & proliferation. Paris: Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

    Google Scholar 

  • FATF/IMF. (2011). The Netherlands: Mutual Evaluation Report (Mutual Evaluation Report): Paris: Financial Action Task Force - International Monetary Fund.

  • FATF/MENAFATF. (2015). Money laundering through the physical transportation of cash: Financial Action Task Force/Middle East & North Africa Financial Action Task Force.

  • FATF/OECD. (2013). The role of hawala and other similar service providers in money laundering and terrorist financing: Financial Action Task Force/The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development.

  • Guerette, R., & Bowers, K. T. (2009). Assessing the Extent of Crime Displacement and Diffusion of Benefits: A Review of Situational Crime Prevention Evaluations. Criminology, 47(4), 1331–1368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haenen, M., & Meeus, T.-J. (1996, 23-03-1996). Een nationale commotie had ik nooit verwacht. NRC Handelsblad.

  • Haenen, M. (2015, 1 oktober 2015). Politiebaas Bouman weg om worstelingen met reorganisatie. NRC Handelsblad.

  • Kleemans, E. R., Brienen, M. E. I., van de Bunt, H. G., Kouwenberg, R. F., Paulides, G., & Barendsen, J. (2002). Georganiseerde criminaliteit in Nederland: Tweede rapportage op basis van de WODC-monitor. Den Haag: WODC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleemans, E. R., Van den Berg, E. A. I. M., Van de Bunt, H. G., Brouwers, M., Kouwenberg, R. F., & Paulides, G. (1998). Georganiseerde criminaliteit in Nederland. Rapportage op basis van de WODC-monitor. Den Haag: WODC.

    Google Scholar 

  • KLPD/DNR. (2005). Criminaliteitsbeeld witwassen (Report). Driebergen: Korps Landelijke Politiediensten/Dienst Nationale Recherche.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruisbergen, E. W., Kleemans, E. R., & Kouwenberg, R. F. (2014). Profitability, Power, or Proximity? Organized Crime Offenders Investing Their Money in Legal Economy. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 21(2), 237–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruisbergen, E. W., van de Bunt, H. G., Kleemans, E. R., Kouwenberg, R. F., Huisman, K., Meerts, C. A., & de Jong, D. (2012). Fourth Report of the Organized Crime Monitor: Summary. Den Haag: Boom Lemma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lammers, J., Bloem, B., Bottenberg, M., Ketelaar, B., ‘t Lam, J., Russelman, M., & Zarazaga, C. (2008). Witwassen: Verslag van een onderzoek voor het Nationaal Dreigingsbeeld 2008. Rotterdam: Korps Landelijke Politiediensten.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, S., & Venkatesh, S. (2000). An economic analysis of a drugselling gang’s finances. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115(3), 755–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matrix Knowledge Group. (2007). The illicit drug trade in the United Kingdom (2nd edition) (Online Report): Home Office.

  • Nelen, H. (2008). Real estate and serious forms of crime. International Journal of Social Economics, 35(10), 751–762.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Passas, N. (1999). Informal Value Transfer Systems and Criminal Organizations: A study into so-called underground banking networks. Den Haag: WODC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Passas, N. (2005). Informal value transfer systems and criminal activities (report No. 2005-1). Den Haag: WODC.

    Google Scholar 

  • PEO. (1996). Inzake opsporing: Enquête opsporingsmethoden, Bijlage VIII: deelonderzoek I onderzoeksgroep Fijnaut: Autochtone, allochtone en buitenlandse criminele groepen. (Parlementaire Enquêtecommissie Opsporingsmethoden No. 0921.7371). Den Haag: Tweede Kamer 1995-1996, 24 072.

  • Riccardi, M., & Levi, M. (2017). Cash and anti-money laundering. In C. King, C. Walker, & J. Gurule (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Criminal and Terrorism Financing Law. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soudijn, M. R. J. (2006). Chinese human smuggling in transit. Den Haag: Boom juridische uitgeverij.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soudijn, M. R. J. (2017). Witwassen: Criminaliteitsbeeldanalyse 2016. Driebergen: Landelijke Eenheid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soudijn, M., & Akse, T. (2012). Witwassen: Criminaliteitsbeeldanalyse 2012. Driebergen: Korps landelijke politiediensten - Dienst Nationale Recherche.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spapens, T. (2006). Interactie tussen criminaliteit en opsporing: De gevolgen van opsporingsactiviteiten voor de organisatie en afscherming an xtc-productie en -handel in Nederland. Antwerpen: Intersentia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Unger, B., Ferwerda, J., Nelen, H., & Ritzen, L. (2011). Money laundering in the real estate sector: Suspicious properties. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesh, S. (2008). Gang leader for a day: A rogue sociologist crosses the line. London: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vijlbrief, M. (2012). Looking for Displacement Effects: Exploring the Case of Ecstacy and Amphetamine in the Netherlands. Trends in Organized Crime, 15(2&3), 198–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weenink, A. W. (2015). Behavioral problems and disorders among radicals in police files. Perspectives on Terrorism, 9(2), 17–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaitch, D. (2002). Trafficking cocaine: Colombian drug entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Den Haag: Kluwer Law International.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Police of the Netherlands, Central Intelligence Division, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

    Melvin R. J. Soudijn

Authors
  1. Melvin R. J. Soudijn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melvin R. J. Soudijn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Soudijn, M.R.J. Using Police Reports to Monitor Money Laundering Developments. Continuity and Change in 12 Years of Dutch Money Laundering Crime Pattern Analyses. Eur J Crim Policy Res 25, 83–97 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-018-9379-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-018-9379-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation