NCJ Number
134113
Date Published
1991
Length
331 pages
Annotation
This narrative describes and analyzes the use of The Bahamas by white-collar criminals from the United States for tax evasion, money laundering, and other financial crimes from the mid-1950's to 1980 as well as the efforts of the United States Internal Revenue Service to address this criminal activity.
Abstract
Laws regarding bank secrecy, legalized gambling, and other business activities resulted in major economic development in The Bahamas during the 1960's. The country became an international banking center as well as a center for international drug smuggling. Its development both contributed to and took place in a context of major political corruption. During the 1960's and 1970's, the Internal Revenue Service initiated major investigations into American organized crime and the country's underground economy. However, the bureaucratic infighting and other problems hindered the effectiveness of the efforts and ultimately led to their termination. The analysis concludes that the events raise questions about the commitment of United States law enforcement officials to combat complex international crime during the 1960's and 1970's. Index and chapter reference notes (Publisher summary modified)