Tax is a good thing and evading it means that you are not bringing back something into the community, it is natural that the government is going to hunt down money launderers because those taxes could be used to build projects that will benefit the many, I understand if some launder because the government is corrupt but with you evading taxes, you should at the least bring something back in the community.
Tax is a good thing? Who told you that? Nowadays, most of the tax money is being used to wage wars abroad and to pay the most unproductive members of the society. I am not in favor of tax evasion, but just saying that over-glorifying the tax collection is not necessary. If the tax structure is fair, then no one would be in favor of evading taxes. But when it becomes a way of punishing the successful people and rewarding the unproductive individuals, then it's purpose is put to question.
I dont think @Kittygalore understands the concept deeply, most of the countries take more than 30% of what you have earned and for medium class or lower medium class people, that is allot of money to simply giveaway. On that the developments by the country and politicians towards them will not be of recognizable impact and therefore most of them think of laundering the money to save it.
It might be an illegal activity in the eyes of the government but for a small household, it is allot. So no one can judge it on a general way, people who are laundering with illegal income is definitely wrong but what about genuine poor people..?