DRUGS MONEY saved some banks from collapse at the height of the global crisis, the  Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, told the Observer signs suggest some banks were rescued by billions of dollars ‘from the drugs trade and other illegal activities.’  He says he had seen evidence the proceeds of organised crime were the ‘only liquid investment capital’ available to some banks on the verge of collapse last year.  Costa says as a result, a majority of the $352bn (£216bn) of drugs profits was absorbed into the economics system, effectively laundering it. See story…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235512/Drugs-money-saved-banks-collapse-global-crisis-claims-UN-drugs-crime-chief.html#ixzz0ZeaJVeN1

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/dec/13/drug-money-banks-saved-un-cfief-claims