The Bunker – News without the nonsense Cash is king – How dirty money took over the world
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Feb 4, 2026 Oliver Bullough, journalist and author who exposes global corruption, offers a crisp tour of how laundering evolved into a massive industry. He maps clever tricks, the limits of compliance, and the role of enablers. He also examines crypto, trade and luxury markets as highways for dirty money. The conversation highlights why some places became laundering hubs and what it takes to fight back.
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Why Money Laundering Persists
- Money laundering means making illegally obtained funds appear legitimate so criminals can keep them without attracting attention.
- Governments built massive compliance systems, yet criminals adapt faster and exploit design weaknesses.
Brink's Mat Gold Loophole
- After the Brink's Mat robbery, a small gold processor moved extraordinary amounts without suspicion from bankers.
- Bank secrecy and norms then let illicit gold sales go largely unchecked.
Regulation Hasn’t Reduced Criminal Share
- Decades of laws and compliance have not reduced the proportion of criminal activity in the global economy.
- Criminals out-innovate slow governments, finding new loopholes faster than regulators can close them.
