"Merchant Of Death" And His Mustache Face Terror Charges

Viktor Bout, being escorted by DEA agents (DEA)

The Russian national whose arms dealing allegedly brought him billions and the nickname "Merchant of Death" pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in a New York federal court today. Viktor Bout, 43, was extradited from Thailand to New York yesterday and the DEA's chief of operations Tom Harrigan said, "Many believe Bout did not care who his weapons killed. But he did care. Based on his recorded coversations Bout said he preferred murdering Americans."

According to the Wall Street Journal, "Bout runs an air-cargo business that he has said specializes in bringing legitimate cargo into conflict zones, but U.S. authorities labeled him as the world’s most notorious arms dealer for using his business to fly weapons across the world. Suspected clients include Liberia’s Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi; Bout’s life was the subject of a bestselling book." U.S authorities caught him in a sting when they posed as members of Columbia's radical FARC movement and Bout allegedly tried to sell them "an arsenal that included more than 700 surface-to-air missiles, 5,000 AK47 assault rifles, anti-personnel land mines, C4 explosives and ultra-light planes that could be fitted out with grenade launchers."

Bout, the inspiration of this Nicolas Cage movie, was given a public defender when he said he had no resources in the U.S. for legal counsel.

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By Jen Chung in News on November 17, 2010 5:12 PM

Comments [rss]

Barclay

Leave Nicolas Cage alone!

Eric

UPDATE: VIKTOR BOUT: THE PERP WALK: RUSSIAN DUBBED MERCHANT OF DEATH PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT: MEDIA FAILS TO ASK CRUCIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT US APPROVAL TO FLY FOR BOUT AND ASSOCIATES

http://theenterprisereport.typepad.com/news/2010/11/update-viktor-bout-arrives-in-us-pleaded-not-guilty-us-govt-fails-to-answer-questions-of-longtime-ap.html

jthaisurf

As a lawyer based in Thailand, I can accurately state that under Thai Extradition law, extradition is not available for political crimes. This is explicitly stated in the US-Thailand Extradition Treaty and in the Thailand Extradition Act itself. However, as seen in the number of posts on this topic, there seems to be growing consensus from the public that the Viktor Bout extradition to the United States was politically motivated. Additionally, the use of the FARC as a ruse to snare Bout just doesn’t make sense. Why would the US Drug Enforcement Agency be looking for Russian arms dealers that sell to Colombians in Thailand? What does this case have to do with drug enforcement, and with the Colombian drug trade?

cmdrogogov

Nice to see the US gov't busy taking out its competitors in the arms sales business.

Love Your Life

Russians took over on this, it was time they shut down the operation. The kick backs were not sufficient.

darkdrseuss

Does the ATF still exist, and if the do, wouldn't this be their jurisdiction not the DEA?

Spirit of 76

My guess would be that ATF handles only domestic affairs, while DEA has jurisdiction over international crimes. Sort of like the distinction between FBI and CIA.

kane

The FBI has an international operation through their legal attaches at American embassies in foreign countries.

The DEA has this one because, according to the AP, the case began as a drug probe and turned into an international weapons running investigation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101118/ap_on_re_us/us_arms_suspect_35

Dan

Viktor Bout was setup - another Fed informant sting! No moar DEA lies!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nychalakh-Russia/Free-Viktor-Bout-no-moar-DEA-Lies-man/129143200476984

Mr. Brooks

ColOmbia. Not ColUmbia.

angry_pickle

Just like in the movie Lord of War, Bout didn't manufacture those weapons himself. Nor take 700 missiles out of the factory on his back.