Money laundering is the process of concealing the origins of money obtained through illegal activities, such as fraud, drug trafficking, or corruption, to make it appear as if it comes from legitimate sources. Criminals achieve this by moving funds through complex financial transactions, businesses, or casinos, often across multiple countries, to obscure the money’s illegal origins. The goal is to integrate the 'cleaned' money into the economy without raising suspicion, allowing criminals to use or invest their illicit gains openly.