The World really is Flat

I've been reading Friedman's The World is Flat recently (http://www.amazon.com/World-Flat-History-Twenty-first-Century/dp/0374292884 ).  The book talks of Amazons, e-bays, Indian accountants doing US tax returns, but so far... no mention of Columbian drug lords.

The Columbian drug barons of this world got wind of China FDI, and the Workshop of the World.  Put two and two together, and hey presto, a neat little money laundering operation.

Drug gangs launder cash in China

149 words

21 November 2006

China Economic Review - Daily Briefings

English

Copyright © 2006 China Economic Review Publishing. All Rights Reserved

Colombian drug gangs are using China as a money laundering hub, using the proceeds of their illegal activities to buy Chinese textiles, toys and electronics for resale on the domestic market, Reuters reported. The claims were made in Beijing Monday by Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon, who said the authorities were trying to engage Beijing in talks over how to stop the flow of money. Santos said Columbia was also keen to impose controls on the sale of chemicals from China that can be use to create synthetic drugs in addition to legal products. The main purpose of his visit was to negotiate a number of free trade deals aimed at boosting Chinese investment in the South American country. Colombia wants Chinese firms to use it as an export platform to sell products to countries with which Bogota has free trade deals.