US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

[lurker]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

I was not trying to make out the translations were good, simply that for the uninitiated, there is a way to get at the gist of what was written in another language. Having had to get someone else to translate patents into English, I can relate that the meaning of a single word can have immense ramifications for the understanding of any documents true meaning. But surely; that is the fun of language and translation, discovering the truth hidden in a well written sentence.

In other words we should use all of the translation engines we can find on the web until we find one that translates the article into something that confirms our prejudices and doesn't challenge our preconceptions. ;)

We then present that translation when making our argument.

[Chris Coles]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

I was not trying to make out the translations were good, simply that for the uninitiated, there is a way to get at the gist of what was written in another language. Having had to get someone else to translate patents into English, I can relate that the meaning of a single word can have immense ramifications for the understanding of any documents true meaning. But surely; that is the fun of language and translation, discovering the truth hidden in a well written sentence.

[Andreuccio]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

I had to challenge myself. Another quick (late?) n' dirty translation of the Italian article:


96 Million Euro of US Treasury Notes Confiscated At Chiasso
(Adnkronos)

June 4, Milano

249 US Federal Reserve bonds, worth a nominal value of 500 million dollars each, and 10 Kennedy bonds worth 1 billion dollars each, were hidden in a briefcase having a double bottom, for a total of 134 billion dollars, equivalent to 96 billion euro.

The confiscation took place at the Chiasso International Train station, between Switzerland and Italy, by the Territorial Operatives Section at Chiasso, in collaboration with the service men from the Financial Control Group at Chiasso Bridge, in the course of working to prevent illicit traffic of money.

The valuables were in the possession of two Japanese men in their 50's, from a train originating in Italy, who insisted that they had nothing to declare when they were taken aside at Chiasso train station.

However, a thorough check of their baggage revealed the US treasury bills, hidden in the bottom of a briefcase, in a closed compartment, separate from the one containing their personal belongings.

Besides the treasury bills, the two Japanese were transporting original and conspicuous bank documents.

The bonds and the accompanying documents, which were also confiscated, are under investigation to determine their authenticity and origin. If the treasury bonds are found to be authentic, under normal circumstances, the administrative sanctions applicable to the owners could reach 38 billion euro, equal to the sum of 40% of the amount above the duty-free limit of 10,000 euro.

Other news

I'm curious: what was the other news?

[Andreuccio]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

For the record, you can get any language translated on your web page. With the new IE 8 it gives it to you via Bing but just go to the search box and ask Translate

The first one was Altavista using the Babel fish http://www.altavista.com/ - just look below the box and you will find Babel Fish Translate.

Google http://translate.google.com/#

It only takes a few moments and from then onwards every language is there for the translation.

Great! Years of hard work made obsolete by a f---ing computer program. :mad:

At least I enjoyed myself while doing it. (Hat tip to the women both in Italy and at UCLA.)




(In reality, while the programs are good, and will give you the gist of what is being said, they are prone to mistakes, and can't translate into idioms well. Witness the translation of this same passage on the News of the Weird thread that Metalman got.)

[Shakespear]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

I would think that anyone making a delivery of something like this would be flying an exclusive Lear Jet with point to point delivery of the passengers. The bonds safely hidden in the plush Corinthian leather where the Yakuza boys are sitting, such that no "sniffing" dog (Yehhh, right Brother) would have a clue it is there.

This all sounds just too stupid.

Hiding the dumb paper in a delivery container of super dupper printer paper from Japan to Switzerland would befuddle the "finance police" even more. Go looking through million of sheets of paper for this stuff :p

[Chris Coles]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

Thanks for verifying the translation.

For the record, you can get any language translated on your web page. With the new IE 8 it gives it to you via Bing but just go to the search box and ask Translate

The first one was Altavista using the Babel fish http://www.altavista.com/ - just look below the box and you will find Babel Fish Translate.

Google http://translate.google.com/#

It only takes a few moments and from then onwards every language is there for the translation.

[ken]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

I had to challenge myself. Another quick (late?) n' dirty translation of the Italian article:


96 Million Euro of US Treasury Notes Confiscated At Chiasso
(Adnkronos)

June 4, Milano

249 US Federal Reserve bonds, worth a nominal value of 500 million dollars each, and 10 Kennedy bonds worth 1 billion dollars each, were hidden in a briefcase having a double bottom, for a total of 134 billion dollars, equivalent to 96 billion euro.

The confiscation took place at the Chiasso International Train station, between Switzerland and Italy, by the Territorial Operatives Section at Chiasso, in collaboration with the service men from the Financial Control Group at Chiasso Bridge, in the course of working to prevent illicit traffic of money.

The valuables were in the possession of two Japanese men in their 50's, from a train originating in Italy, who insisted that they had nothing to declare when they were taken aside at Chiasso train station.

However, a thorough check of their baggage revealed the US treasury bills, hidden in the bottom of a briefcase, in a closed compartment, separate from the one containing their personal belongings.

Besides the treasury bills, the two Japanese were transporting original and conspicuous bank documents.

The bonds and the accompanying documents, which were also confiscated, are under investigation to determine their authenticity and origin. If the treasury bonds are found to be authentic, under normal circumstances, the administrative sanctions applicable to the owners could reach 38 billion euro, equal to the sum of 40% of the amount above the duty-free limit of 10,000 euro.

Other news

[pianodoctor]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

It reads exactly as reported: two Japanese in their 50's stopped at the border of Italy and Switzerland, in Chiasso, with $135 billion in bonds hidden in a satchel. Possible fine up to 40%.

Funniest line: "al momento del controllo doganale, hanno sostenuto di non avere nulla da dichiarare."

"at the moment of customs control, they claimed to not have anything to declare."

Thanks for verifying the translation.

[makimanos]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

On the contrary. Cheap briefcases doesn't catch your attention.
It is out of question that they are original.
The question is why Japanese citizens? Who are they? Any
government connections?

[Tybee Island]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

I can't understand what the problem is? Just look at the quality of briefcase these "bonds" were in! Now you tell me, what kind of criminal carries around $134.5 Billion in bonds in a cheap briefcase like that one? Especially when it is so easy to get wonderful leather in Italy.

Case closed, they must be fakes, all in a day's work, just call me again when you need a super sleuth like myself.....Ciao.

[metalman]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

Why would anybody fake such a thing?

Who in the hell would buy them?

market manipulation?

[flintlock]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

Could the reason for smuggling be tax related? Wanting to redeem them while in another country? Of course, who has $134 billion? Makes no sense.

Maybe it's the Illuminati.

[pianodoctor]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

Maybe the reality is something a bit more mundane. Something like this: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...7m10bonds.html

I hope so anyway. I'm bearish on the dollar but I'd hate to see some kind of chaotic crash. It's better if this is "just" an attempted scam.

[dummass]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

Why would anybody fake such a thing?

Who in the hell would buy them?

[TheServant]

Re: US$ 134.5 billion seized at Italian Border

Thanks for the heads up.