"Money Laundering” Accounts for Up to 3.6% of Mexico's GDP

In Mexico, it is estimated that money laundering activities generate between 2 and 3.6 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stated Angélica María Ruiz López, president of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption Commission of the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants (IMCP).

Therefore, she revealed that according to the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), public accountants play a crucial role as guardians of the financial system in the fight against money laundering. And it is because, according to the FATF, IFAC, and other international organizations, “corruption and money laundering form an indissoluble vicious circle.”

Therefore, Ruiz López pointed out that the strategic position of an accountant allows them to detect and report suspicious activities, ensuring the integrity of financial transactions and compliance with current regulations. This is why organizations like the FATF consider accountants as gatekeepers or guardians of finances. The importance of accountants is significant, as she noted that, “money laundering is an evil that globally generates money flows of between 2 and 5 percent of global GDP, with figures ranging from 800 billion to two trillion dollars circulating illicitly.”

She recalled that on July 1, Mexican Elisa de Anda was appointed president of the FATF, and her first objective is the prevention of money laundering. Therefore, she highlighted the importance of gatekeepers and called on accountants to strengthen their tools and knowledge.