Misuse of the financial system is not limited to money laundering schemes designed to preserve and maximise proceeds from crimes which have been committed . The financial system is misused in similar ways to fund terrorist atrocities . After the September 11 attacks , the international community rapidly recognised the important similarities between the processes involved in money laundering and in the financing of terrorism . Traditionally , the financing of terrorism stemmed from illegal activities , e.g. bank robberies , weapons and drug trafficking , etc . However , in recent years , a new phenomenon had grown : the carrying out of legitimate activities to finance terrorist actions . In this case , the phenomenon is the opposite of money laundering : the " clean " money collected through charities , legitimate commercial activities and so on , can be used to finance terrorist actions . The above considerations led to the Council of Europe ’s decision to update the 1990 Strasbourg Convention
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
2005 Warsaw Convention