Which statement describes placement in money laundering?

• A. Movement of funds creating a complex audit trail.
• B. Repatriation of funds to investors.
• C. Converting funds to a new currency.
• D. Introduction of the illegal funds.

Answer: (D)

Placement is the stage where illicit proceeds are first introduced into the financial system, with the aim of distancing the money from its illegal origin. This is exactly what “Introduction of the illegal funds” describes. The other actions fit different parts of the process: moving funds to create a complex audit trail is layering, not the initial entry; repatriation of funds to investors isn’t a standard early step; and converting funds to a new currency can occur during layering or integration as the money is further obscured, not at the entry point.