Where would you rather live, dear reader, Paris, France, or Paris, Texas? In Paris, France, you have art, culture, food, architecture, theatre, films, restaurants, cafés, bistros and museums. But Paris, Texas, has its charms too. Actually, I can’t think of any. But in Paris, France, you will pay $1 million or so for a 1,400 … Continue reading
Category Archives: Money
The Lords Of Water
1st Tier Veolia Suez 2nd Tier Bouygues – SAUR RWE – Thames Water Bechtel – United Utilities Enron – Azurix 3rd Tier Severn Trent Anglian Water Kelda Group American Water Works (purchased by Azurix) – Suez and Veolia have a monopoly on over 70% of the existing world water market. Suez operates in 130 countries … Continue reading
Yakuza – Part III
“Most of the time the Yakuza launder money using tried-and-true methods. For example, they wash hundreds of millions of dollars annually through Tokyo real estate, buying amd selling the same buildings to themselves. This artificially runs up prices. The Yakuza then back loans on these buildings with U.S. treasury bonds bought in the freewheeling, unregulated … Continue reading
Yakuza – Part II (Money Laundering)
“When the Yakuza first went international, they relied almost entirely on banks to launder their money. At the beginning of the 1970s, however, the Yakuza discovered the stock market. With the help of Malaysian Chinese gangs, they opened brokerage accounts in Malaysia and Singapore. As their business grew, they moved quickly into Hong Kong, Australia, … Continue reading
Yakuza
“At least fifty major real estate properties in Hawaii are owned by the Yakuza. Hundreds of millions of dollars of Yakuza money has been poured into hotels and golf courses around the United States. Many of the private Japanese gambling clubs that dot Midtown Manhattan are also believed to be backed by Yakuza groups.” Continue reading
Orange Barons
Brazil has become the global superpower of the orange industry Over the last three decades, South America’s largest nation, which has warmer weather and cheaper labor than Florida, has become the world’s number one source of orange juice. The Brazilians have built oceangoing tankers to transport concentrate, port facilities to offload it and tank farms … Continue reading
Best Locations For Money Laundering
During my time at Brown Brothers Harriman, an internal research report was circulated outlining the most hospitable jurisdictions for money laundering. This was generated back in 2001, but I still believe it is interesting as things haven’t changed much. The list is in alphabetical order rather than in order of the ease of laundering: Cook … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 