Resumen

This research’s main topic is money laundering, and its general objective is identifying the main international legal instruments in which the Colombian State has become a party through its signing and ratification, as well as by the implementation of recommendations from multilateral and even private organizations, regarding the prevention, detection and punishment of money laundering. To this end, a general identification of the sources founded is made, they are depurated in consideration of their highest levels of impact during the last three decades, to finally choose six instruments as part of the discussion. Each of the analyzed sources is accompanied by its relationship, relevance, and justification for its adoption as international guidelines for the Colombian State. The results show the high degree of commitment demonstrated by Colombia in front of the international community in the fight against money laundering, which is reflected in its internal regulations, responding positively to the criminalization of recommendations and the international instruments. This follows a closed list system, without criminalization of the legal entity, coupled with its joint work with other States in their respond to the phenomenon of transnational crime, with money laundering being a clear example of this type of criminality in the globalized world.