Bulk cash smuggling may be crude, rude and primitive, but it frequently serves as an effective means of placement: getting illicit cash into the global banking system. In most cases, casas de cambio, or local financial institutions accept the greenbacks as deposits, and the placement cycle is completed without incident.

A lot of the deposited US dollars end up being shipped back into the United States by the MSBs, thus commencing the layering cycle. Why these dollars are accepted without question is a mystery to me, as
there is rarely an enquiry by the accepting US bank into source of funds. The money can then be invested, either in the US, or overseas, during the integration phase.

Whilst there has been some notable progress in the US, with criminal investigations of casas de cambio inbound dollars, much remains to be done. Should all shipments of dollars from Mexico incur enhanced due diligance, and source of funds queries? What do you think?