Viktor Bout
Infamous
Russian arms dealer and former
KGB agent Viktor Bout was arrested in
Thailand on charges of "procuring weapons and explosives for Colombian rebels," namely members of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or FARC). Venezuela have
sent troops into Colombia as part of an anti-FARC raid.
1 Bout and his associate
Andrew Smulian were arrested in Thailand during an undercover sting operation set up by the U.S.
DEA. Thai police acted on an arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Bout's extradition trial began on
September 21, 2008, after several months of delays.
2
Fast Facts
- Born January 13, 1967
- Nicknames: "Merchant of Death," "Embargo Buster"1
- Business partner: Hasan Cengic, former Defense Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Thought to be the inspiration for the Nicolas Cage film Lord of War
Arms Dealing
Bout is suspected of dealing weapons to numerous countries around the world. He is considered the world's largest arms trafficker. Bout allegedly supplied weapons to the militant group Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka and the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. Bout has also been accused by the British of supplying weapons to Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and possibly Iraq.
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