Major Arms Dealer Arrested in Thailand

New York Times ^ | March 7, 2008 | SETH MYDANS and RAYMOND BONNER

[ricks_place]

BANGKOK — One of the world’s most notorious arms dealers, suspected of supplying weapons to the Taliban and Al Qaeda and of pouring huge arms shipments into Africa’s civil wars with his own private air fleet, was arrested by Thai authorities in a hotel here Thursday. His capture was prompted by a tipoff from the United States in connection with the procurement of weapons for the Colombian FARC rebels.

The Justice Department said that federal prosecutors in New York would unseal criminal charges against the arms dealer, Viktor Bout, 41, and one of his associates later Thursday, charging them with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Such a step would mean that American prosecutors think it likely Mr. Bout will be brought to the United States to stand trial.

Mr. Bout, who is wanted by the police in many countries, is a former Soviet Air Force officer. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, he built a network of air cargo companies in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and the United States, according to the United States Treasury,.

United Nations reports and other investigations have concluded that Mr. Bout may have run the world’s largest arms-smuggling network. Peter Hain, a former British minister for Europe, who investigated the arms-for-diamonds trade, has called him “Africa’s chief merchant of death.”

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Oh CRAP!!!!
Thanks for the ping!!

[BlueDragon]

After some brief checking [what can be found on-line] it looks as if he may have gone too far -- when or if he decided supply FARC. The arrest smells a bit like a setup, though, since it was admittedly a sting arranged by the D.E.A.
How much had been agreed upon, of if money had changed handed hands, authorities are not saying.

But even talking about supplying FARC with heavy weaponry, is a big no-no, right about now.

We wonder how much of this will be related to Colombia's recent complaints against Hugo?

I'm just glad the CIA doesn't want ME to do them any favors. It's too easy to either just wipe an operative out, or pin some other nefarious stuff upon them --- like the kind of stuff the handlers used to previously wink at, or even encourage!

[F-117A]

what is his source of these weapons? mostly likely its china or Russia.

Don't be so sure! Viktor likes to get his weapons where ever he can. Like 99 tons of AK47s from American bases in Bosnia!

Bout's business partner is Hasan Čengić, the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another one of clinton's little presents that keeps on giving!