Antiques are a potential tool for money laundering because they can be used to conceal, move, and convert illicit funds. Antiques can be of high value and often easily transported across borders, making them attractive for criminals who want to evade detection and reporting. Antiques can also be difficult to value and authenticate, creating a lack of transparency and accountability in the market. Criminals can exploit this to inflate or deflate the prices of antiques, or to use them as collateral for loans or other transactions. Antiques can also be used to layer or integrate illicit funds into the legitimate economy, by selling them through auction houses, dealers, or online platforms.
CAMS Certification Package - 6th Edition, Chapter 4: Conducting and Supporting the Investigation Process, pp. 97-98.
Anti-money laundering and the art and antiquities market - a US and UK perspective, Mishcon de Reya LLP, 2022.
Antiques: an unconventional money laundering tool, The Express Tribune, 2023.
Art and Antiquities an Attractive Market for Money Laundering, FATF Argues, OCCRP, 2021.
