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"Merchant Of Death" And His Mustache Face Terror Charges
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 17, 2010
Modified Nov 17, 2010
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DEA
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 17, 2010
Modified Nov 17, 2010
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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.
Tagged
arms dealing
lord of war
merchant of death
terrorism
viktor bout
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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