Archive · 4 Sep 2026
$4.4 Trillion Money Laundering Surges, Recovery Remains Below One Percent
Money laundering means hiding money earned from illegal activities.
The article says about USD 4.4 trillion moved through the illegal economy worldwide in 2025.
That is an extremely large amount of money.
Most of the money came from organised crime, corruption, drug trafficking and human trafficking.
Very little of this money was recovered by authorities.
India also saw more reported economic offences in 2024 than in 2018.
The Chief Justice of India said courts and investigators should respond more actively while still protecting people’s legal rights.
He also urged countries to cooperate across borders to recover stolen money.
Global money laundering reportedly reached USD 4.4 trillion in 2025, up from USD 3.1 trillion in 2023.
Illicit flows grew to 3.8 percent of global GDP, while less than one percent of illicit wealth was recovered.
Organised crime and corruption accounted for USD 2.78 trillion, followed by drug trafficking, human trafficking and terrorist financing.
India recorded 214,379 economic offences in 2024, up from 156,268 in 2018.
Indian banks and financial institutions reported Rs 47,910 crore in fraud in FY26, but only Rs 2,906 crore was recovered.
- Who
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Indian enforcement authorities and countries dealing with illicit financial flows.
- What
- A warning that global money laundering reached USD 4.4 trillion in 2025, alongside concerns about low recovery and conviction rates.
- When
- The global estimate concerns 2025; Indian figures cited cover 2018 to 2024 and financial years FY22 to FY26.
- Where
- The warning was delivered in London at the 43rd International Symposium on Economic Crime, with related data concerning India and global illicit flows.
- Why
- To highlight the rapid growth of the illicit economy, weak recovery of illegal wealth and the need for stronger judicial and cross-border cooperation.
- Global illicit economy in 2025
- USD 4.4 trillion
- Global illicit flows as share of GDP
- 3.8 percent in 2025, compared with 2.9 percent in 2023
- Recovery rate
- Less than one percent of illicit wealth globally
- India economic offences
- 214,379 registered cases in 2024, compared with 156,268 in 2018
- Indian financial fraud in FY26
- Rs 47,910 crore reported by banks and financial institutions
- Indian fraud recovery in FY26
- Rs 2,906 crore, or 6.1 percent of the amount involved
- PMLA convictions
- 43 cases involving 104 accused between FY22 and FY26