During which stage of money laundering do individuals move money through complex transactions?

The appropriate choice for the stage of money laundering where individuals move money through complex transactions is layering. This stage occurs after the initial placement of illicit funds into the financial system, often through the use of banks or financial institutions. During layering, the objective is to obscure the origins of the money by employing various techniques, such as transferring funds between multiple accounts, using shell companies, or changing the form of the money through transactions that make it difficult to trace.

The purpose of layering is to make it challenging for authorities to link the money back to its illegal source. This is achieved through a series of complex transactions that break the chain of custody and effectively disguise the trail of the funds. By scattering the money across various channels, individuals can further distance themselves from the original crime, which is the primary goal of this stage in the money laundering process.

When considering the other stages mentioned, placement would be the initial step, where illicit money is first introduced into the financial system. Integration follows layering and involves reintegrating the laundered money into the economy in a way that appears legitimate. Disbursement generally refers to the point at which the laundered funds are distributed to their final destination. Thus, layering distinctly relates to complex financial transactions designed to obfusc