Cited as a valuable tool in the fight against international crime, The Money Laundering (Proceeds of Crime) Amendment Act was passed in the House of Assembly during 1999. The amendment brings the Act in line with the tracing and forfeiture of proceeds of the Drug Trafficking Act (Section 21). It provides for the enforcement of external confiscation orders in The Bahamas, for recognised crimes of money laundering, with respect to agreements made with other countries. Minister of Foreign Affairs Janet Bostwick noted that the fight against drug trafficking must be “global in its scope” to ensure effectiveness. The Bahamas was the first offshore jurisdiction to introduce legislation making money laundering a criminal offence. The Money Laundering (Proceeds of Crime) Act and Money Laundering (Proceeds of Crime) Regulations were first passed in 1996.