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The Lake Como border region where the alleged bonds were found
Italy may have just hit the jackpot, while America may have reason to worry.
Two Japanese nationals were detained in northern Italy last week by Italian police. These men were found with "249 U.S. Treasury bonds each worth $500 million, plus 10 Kennedy bonds and other U.S. government securities worth a billion dollar each," according to the International Business Times.
It has yet to be definitively determined whether the loot was real or counterfeit, but if real, and because of Italy's money laundering laws, Italy could stand to earn - sit down - $38 billion in fines!
Yet, this story is not just about Italy potentially hitting the jackpot. It is also about the United States, and the fact that sovereign governments may be trying to dump US treasuries on the black market for fear that they soon will be worth very little.
If the bonds found are real, they would be the equivalent of more than 20 percent of Japan's treasury holdings.
Comments
In French that event will sack the dirty dollar haha "piller le dollar" as flat as the earth is
The inside story would be interesting - just how they were caught , why they were in Italy etc. . These sort of customs interceptions are not uncommon in Europe - so what precautions did the Japanese take ? etc.
Regardless of the facts, the US Government will ensure that these are determined to counterfeit. The alternative would be ugly.
I have a hard time believing these are counterfeit, precisely because they are such huge denominations that are not dealt in the private markets. Think about this for a moment. Were these guys planning on selling a $500 million bond to their neighbor? Why would these guys counterfeit Treasuries that would require them to conduct business with a government, at which time they would risk being caught? Thus, if these are counterfeit, then this means that some GOVERNMENT is involved.
the story is: these Japanese men tried to enter Switzerland saying to frontiersmen "we have to declare nothing". But in a hidden pocket of the luggage Italian e Swiss frontiersmen found these bonds. Because bond was not declare will be apply a fee of 40%. If authentical of course..
Sorry fr my bad english..
They are counterfeit produced by North Korea to continue funding their "operations". With all the sanctions placed against NK, they continue to burn threw cash, so the easiest way to fill the coffers is to print some up, duck into Switzerland via boat then wash the bonds threw a conspiring agent in Switzerland. NK has long been accused of printing US currency, and for a nation state to acquire the equipment to be able to do so is not that difficult.
It's ridiculous to think these are anything but phoney bonds.
Here are the largest foreign holders of US Treasure debt from Treas.gov:
In $ Billions:
China, Mainland $768
Japan $687
Carib Bnkng Ctrs (Tax Havens) $214
Oil Exporters (Opec) $192
Russia $138
United Kingdom (Includes Tax Havens) $128
Brazil $127
So where from the above list could the bonds have come?
None on the list above would need to smuggle the bonds across an international border. At a minimum they could use their diplomatic bags not subject to search. More likely they would move them by financial custodian through normal processes and procedures.
What would be the motive to smuggle? Perhaps an embezzlment from the above list? That is hardly likely. First, how would the embezzler redeem the bonds? The US and financial authorities would be on the lookout for any $500 billion bonds that went missing.
Curious case. Just who were they going to fool?
Maxwell Smart has it right -- we'll never know if they are not counterfeit, as the US government can't afford the potential panic this would cause other large debt holders.
They have to claim counterfeit no matter what, and Japan's government will agree, as it would be a face losing admission for them.
Of course they are not Japanese. North Koeran spies travel the world with counterfeited Japanese passport. It seems that their highness General Kim needs more money for his nuke programs.
Aren't these bonds numbered? Doesn't the U.S. government have a list of who owns which bonds? How would a black-market transaction even function? If I were to show up at the Treasury with a 500 million dollar bond would they give me a semi-trailer full of cash?
It seems to make no sense.
there is something not right with this. I think the bonds are real and the gov does not want to tell us how they got there
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