ET Graphics: The $4.4 trillion illicit money machine, in numbers

Global illegal money flows reached $4.4 trillion in 2025, impacting world GDP significantly. Bank frauds are increasing, with many types growing at twenty percent annually. Organized crime and drug networks fuel much of this illicit financial activity. In India, anti-money laundering cases hit a four-year high in FY26. A very small fraction of defrauded amounts is ever recovered by authorities.