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Thais Nab 'Merchant of Death'

Posted Mar 6, 08 5:18 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – The Russian arms dealer branded "the merchant of death" was apprehended in Thailand today after US intelligence linked him to Colombia rebels, the New York Times reports. Victor Bout is on international most-wanted lists for allegedly using his private air fleet to supply al Qaeda and the Taliban—plus war-torn African countries—with weapons. The US plans to seek his extradition.

The former Soviet air force officer built his arms-trafficking empire by founding international cargo transport companies to smuggle weapons out of the former USSR. He denies trading with the Taliban, but he and an associate face charges of providing terrorists with material support, the Times reports. But "things snowball when they start talking about him," said his associate.

Source New York Times

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Thai police escort Russian Viktor Bout, center, as he arrives at the head of the Crime Suppression Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday March 6, 2008. Bout, one of the world's most notorious arms...   (Associated Press)
Russian Viktor Bout sits at the head of the Crime Suppression Bureau following his arrest in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday March 6, 2008. Bout, one of the world's most notorious arms dealers was arrested...   (Associated Press)
Russian Viktor Bout sits at the head of the Crime Suppression Bureau following his arrest in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday March 6, 2008. Bout, one of the world's most notorious arms dealers was arrested...   (Associated Press)
Thai police escort Russian Viktor Bout as he arrives at the head of the Crime Suppression Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday March 6, 2008. Bout, one of the world's most notorious arms dealers was...   (Associated Press)
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Colombia  • FARC  • Rwanda  • weapons  • Liberia  • arms trafficking  • Sierra Leone  • arms


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