Italy’s 134.5 Billion US Federal Bond Train Caper: Think 134 Billion is Big, Try 2.5 Trillion
It’s been over a week since two “Japanese” men were detained on an Italian train near the Swiss border after Italian customs police discovered 134 billion in US Federal Reserve bonds. So far, according to the international press the men have yet to be positively identified as to whether they’re from Japan (they were purportedly carrying Japanese passports) or if Italian prosecutors have ascertained as to whether the bonds are real or counterfeit.
Here’s the link to the Times Online giving more of the scant details of the story.
There are two similar incidents: one in Manila in 2001 where 2.5 trillion in counterfeit bonds were seized in a raid and another in the UK, where a former forensic scientist, a Korean, and a Canadian were caught and convicted of of trying to peddle 2.5 trillion in bogus US Federal Reserve bonds in 2003.
The Manila caper, run by the “Trillion Dollar Gang” was written up by the Times while the UK scheme was published by the UK’s Independent.
As for the MSM, CNN’s blog IReport had a poster named “SuperMax” in Milan post the story about the Italian train mystery. No questions asked and no followup. Must be CNN’s way of “cutting costs” in the newsroom while Asia News had these points to ponder:
1. When it comes to Italy the world press has tended to focus on Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi’s personal problems rather than on stories like the bonds smuggling affair which has been front page on Italian newspapers.
2. The fear of counterfeit bonds and securities has spread across Asia with the result that real securities are also considered with suspicion.
3. During the Second World War several countries at war printed and put in circulation perfectly counterfeit enemy money. It is also historically established that some central banks, like the Bank of Italy 65 years ago, issued the same securities twice (identical registered number and code). This way they could print more money with legal tender than they officially declared. The main difference though is that 65 years ago the world was involved in a bloody war, which is not the case today.
By LBG
Image – Train, Italy-Swiss Border
Ok… this is really strange. I just bought a wedge of Parmesan and when I opened the package there was a $500 Million Kennedy bond inside.
I am not making this up!
Written on the bond was the following: “This bond property of Dragon Family. You steal secret Gold Coin. We get bond instead.”
Does anyone know how I can contact the Dragon Family to give them their bond back? I’ve hear they are really difficult to locate.
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