Precious metals, such as gold and silver, pose a high risk of money laundering because they have some features that make them attractive to criminals. According to the FATF Guidance on the Risk-Based Approach for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones1, these features include:
Some precious metals can be formed into other objects, making easier to transport. For example, gold can be melted and shaped into jewellery, coins, bars, or other items that can be easily concealed and moved across borders. This makes it difficult for law enforcement and customs authorities to detect and seize the illicit proceeds of crime.
Precious metals have high intrinsic value in a relatively compact form and are easy to convert into currency. For example, gold has a stable and universal value that can be exchanged for cash or other assets in any market. This makes it easy for criminals to store, transfer, and launder their illicit funds without leaving a trace in the formal financial system.
The other two options, C and D, are not as relevant to the risk of money laundering. The value of precious metals is determined by the market forces of supply and demand, and it is not easy to inflate or manipulate it.
Precious metals can be used in many high-tech commercial applications, but this does not necessarily make them more valuable or more prone to money laundering.
References:
1: FATF Guidance on the Risk-Based Approach for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones, 2008,
https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Fatfrecommendations/Fatfguidanceontherisk-basedapproachford
2: Money laundering and terrorist financing risks and vulnerabilities associated with gold, 2015,
https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Methodsandtrends/Ml-tf-risks-and-vulnerabilities-gold.html
3: The anti-money laundering framework for precious stones and metals dealers in Singapore, 2021,
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JMLC-07-2021-0074/full/html
4: Gold and Money Laundering, 2019,
https://www.moneylaunderingnews.com/2019/04/gold-and-money-laundering/