MongoDB component found but TypeConverter is NoClassDefFoundError

I have a weird issue happening with the mongodb component. I have an XML
Camel route that has a to endpoint configured as a mongodb insert.

<convertBodyTo type="java.lang.String"/>

<to
uri="mongodb:MongoConn?database=xyzdb橪;collection=xyzcoll橪;operation=insert橪;createCollection=true"
/>

When I run it, I get a TypeConversionException due to
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError.

/ 'org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.CamelMongoDbException:
org.apache.camel.TypeConversionException:
Error during type conversion from type: java.lang.String to the
required type: com.mongodb.DBObject with value {transaction_type=1, ....

due java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Could not initialize class
org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.converters.MongoDbBasicConverters'/

The odd thing is looking a the log entries show that the mongodb component
is found via DefaultComponentResolver:

/main] DefaultComponentResolver DEBUG Found component: mongodb via
type: org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.MongoDbComponent via:
META-INF/services/org/apache/camel/component/mongodb/

'org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.CamelMongoDbException:
org.apache.camel.TypeConversionException:
Error during type conversion from type: java.lang.String to the
required type: com.mongodb.DBObject with value {transaction_type=1, ....

due java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Could not initialize class
org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.converters.MongoDbBasicConverters'

2013-06-28 17:59:30 ERROR DeadLetterChannel:145 - Failed delivery for
(MessageId:
null_destination__ID_c3e2d840c1c4d7f34040404040404040cb92602db4337825 on
ExchangeId:
ID-nykdsr10956-intranet-barcapint-com-43505-1372456759481-1-195). On
delivery attempt: 0 caught:
org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.CamelMongoDbException:
org.apache.camel.TypeConversionException: Error during type conversion from
type: java.lang.String to the required type: com.mongodb.DBObject with value
{ ...} due java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError:
Could not initialize class
org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.converters.MongoDbBasicConverters

main] SpringCamelContext DEBUG Using ComponentResolver:
org.apache.camel.impl.DefaultComponentResolver [ at ] 66869470 to resolve component
with name: mongodb
main] DefaultComponentResolver DEBUG Found component: mongodb in
registry: null
main] DefaultComponentResolver DEBUG Found component: mongodb via
type: org.apache.camel.component.mongodb.MongoDbComponent via:
META-INF/services/org/apache/camel/component/mongodb

main] DefaultManagementAgent DEBUG Registered MBean with ObjectName:
org.apache.camel:context=nykdsr10956.intranet.barcapint.com/dtccCamelContext,type=components,name="mongodb

main] DefaultComponent DEBUG Creating endpoint
uri=[mongodb://MongoConn?collection=confirms犷骵陗鲶⨧=true疫婭꬞=dtccꊗ꭪=insert],
path=[MongoConn]
main] IntrospectionSupport DEBUG Configured property: collection
on bean: Endpoint[mongodb://MongoConn?.........
main] IntrospectionSupport DEBUG Configured property:
createCollection on bean: Endpoint[mongodb://MongoConn?.......
main] IntrospectionSupport DEBUG Configured property: database on
bean: Endpoint[mongodb://MongoConn?.........
main] IntrospectionSupport DEBUG Configured property: operation on
bean: Endpoint[mongodb://MongoConn?..............
main] IntrospectionSupport DEBUG Configured property:
mongoConnection on bean: Endpoint[mongodb://MongoConn?..........

main] SpringCamelContext DEBUG
mongodb://MongoConn?collection=confirms ..........

main] MongoDbEndpoint INFO Initialising MongoDb endpoint:
Endpoint[mongodb://MongoConn? ..........
main] MongoDbEndpoint INFO MongoDb component initialised and
endpoint bound to MongoDB collection with the following paramters. Address
list: [/127.0.0.1:30001], Db: ..........
main] MongoDbProducer DEBUG Starting producer:
Producer[mongodb://MongoConn?collection=confirms ........