What is integration in the context of money laundering?

Integration in the context of money laundering refers to the final stage of the money laundering process, where illicitly obtained funds are reintroduced into the legitimate financial system in such a way that they appear to be lawful. The correct understanding involves the concept of the criminal gaining access to what is known as "clean money" after going through the processes of placement and layering.

When funds have been successfully integrated, they can be used without attracting attention from authorities, allowing criminals to benefit from their illegal activities without the risk of being detected. This is a crucial aspect of money laundering, as it completes the cycle of disguising the origins of the money and reintegrating it into the economy.

The other choices, while related to the broader themes of money laundering, do not capture the specific meaning of integration. Disguising illegally obtained funds pertains more to the layering stage, transfer of funds across borders can be part of both the placement and layering stages, and legitimate investment of profits could involve a variety of legal financial activities but does not specifically denote the process of integrating illicit gains into the economy.