“I would also suspect that these two men worked for the Japanese government, or a large Japanese Bank representing the government.”
Not credible. If a government wanted to smuggle bonds into Switzerland, they would use a diplomatic pouch. Make the swap in-country. Little risk.
These are either forgers or representatives of, well, folks that make their money on or beyond the margins of legality. It could be TARP money that has disappeared. It could be Madoff money. It could be NK printed forgeries (they are big in that business). But it ain’t money legally acquired by a government.
I’m not counting on a long life for either of the couriers.
How would it make sense to convert Madoff-type money into Bonds rather than other currencies or gold? It puts an extra step in the process that could foil the plan.
Also, the amount itself is very suspicious. Forgers would be fools to forge such a high amount, which is only realistically purchased by nations, not firms or individuals.
I'm not saying I know what the situation is, but something is very strange here.