Policing Hawala: A Question of Not If, but What Hawala Transactions to Allow?

This paper explores issues of criminalization and decriminalization of behavior within socio-cultural contexts in relationship with components of criminal justice system, including law enforcement. On one hand, policing Hawala requires coordination among various law enforcement agencies at local and global level, on the other it deals with the paradox in India where Hawala has been decriminalized. The law enforcement officials in India are also aware of legitimate users of Hawala and call for making the criminal distinction based on the purpose and source of money, instead of the use of this system itself. Both, lower perceived legitimacy of political institutions and inadequate banking infrastructure, govern this decision-making within the social structure. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]