hi I'm new to this site, I just wanted to give you some insights into this piece of news. I'm from switzerland and often use the train to and from
italy where the two japanese were travelling.
First of all, the italian financial police searches these trains on a regular basis, trains crossing the border between italy and switzerland normally
stop for 20/30 minutes (at least )at the border to allow for this.
Every time I`ve taken these trains I have been briefly questioned and I have seen other passengers having their bags inspected.
Some have argued that the police had to have been tipped off but I don't believe this would need to be the case.
This italian blog interviewed an officer of the italian financial police stationed at the border area in question
crisis.blogosfere.it...
The officer col. Mecarelli states thats the two men were indeed japanese and they have not been detained but just questioned and then released.
Apparently the police is working with the US secret service.
It is still not clear to me if the certificates seized were bearer bonds, if not, I don't suppose they would qualify for cash equivalent instruments
and I suspect no crime was actually committed. This would explain why medias are not reporting on the story.
and yet, the officer states in no uncertain terms that a crime was perpetrated carrying a "fine" of 38 billion euros.
i am puzzled
[edit on 12-6-2009 by barbar.aha]