We know of old, that this corruption spreads its tentacles into most countries in Europe, and involves senior commission officials, including commission president José Manuel Barroso.

THE HAGUE— On May 12, 1998, a small package was loaded into the hold of Air France Flight 2522 in Paris bound for Munich. The 1-kilogram parcel had arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport under armed guard, but once on board it was to travel unescorted. After a 20-minute ground delay, the flight was airborne, touching down in Munich at 7:55 p.m.

The 2-pound package contained a top-secret weapon in the European Central Bank's strategy to combat counterfeiting of euro banknotes, which are set to go into circulation in January 2002. Within the jet's locked hold was a printing plate for embedding a high-security hologram into the new euro bills. The plate was on its way to Munich for the first large-scale test production run.

But the trial never took place. On arrival at Munich, the masterplate had disappeared. Air France officials scoured the hold and the entire Boeing airliner for clues but came up empty.

The heist, which had the scent of an organized crime job, still baffles the authorities three years later.

Richard, the link to ZeroHedge is broken...