IACC Day 5 Afternoon Keynote Address:
Robert Mazur, Author and One of the World’s Leading Authorities on Financial Crimes and Money Laundering
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Robert Mazur has earned global acclaim as one of the world’s leading experts on the financial escapades of the underworld. There is no one with more first-hand knowledge about how international black money markets launder nearly $2 trillion in criminal proceeds annually. For years, in the eyes of organized crime leaders he was a highly successful mob connected money launderer that helped manage their illicit fortunes.
He spent five years as a deep undercover agent for US, UK, French and other government law enforcement, gathering evidence that led to some of the largest money laundering prosecutions in history. The only undercover agent in the world to have infiltrated so deeply into the inner circle of financial crime, his experience is unique. He’s seen how the system works from the inside, and the insights he holds are so valuable that the criminal world offered $1/2 million for his death. Mr. Mazur’s first book, The Infiltrator, chronicled his five year undercover operation into the Medellin drug cartel and the Bank of Credit & Commerce International, a bank that laundered billions in illicit funds for drug traffickers, illegal arms dealers, terrorists, tax evaders, corrupt third-world leaders, and other criminals. Mazur’s operation led to the prosecution of more than 100 drug traffickers and money launderers, a dozen BCCI executives, and the downfall of the bank itself. His second book, The Betrayal, chronicles his later work undercover to investigate the Cali Cartel, and international money laundering schemes through international trade mechanisms. Mr. Mazur gave a compelling presentation on combatting government corruption and money laundering, relating his experiences investigating BCCI and its role laundering money for the Medellin Cartel. Bob’s multimedia presentation provided insight into the techniques of money laundering and financial crime, methods of investigation, and safety and security measures for those who investigate them. His experiences and perspectives remain highly relevant to the work of these judges, bank officials, lawyers, civil society leaders and investigative journalists. Bob engaged in a lively and empathetic Q&A session with these distinguished individuals. They all agreed they could have talked with him for many more hours. Mr. Mazur autographed copies of The Betrayal for each visitor, and one for Secretary Blinken, which was delivered by one of the visitors at a private session with the Secretary. |
Photo by Todd Rose of book presentation to Secretary Blinken
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