The WSJ has a superb investigative article on how South American drug cartels launder drug money from Europe. It comes back to South America in large denomination euros that is then often channeled into the US via foreign-exchange companies.
Hundreds of millions of dollars speeds in and out of bank accounts in multiple countries via bank wire or sometimes even in cash, and nobody has a clue what’s going on. “Goodness, we were shocked, just shocked, to learn that cash transactions of that size could possible be linked to – what was that you called it, officer? – drug dealing. You can be assured that we are taking major steps to hide the money better stop this from happening again.”
How could the corruption not be everywhere and at all levels? It’s not just drug cartels that benefit from drug money.