'Merchant of death'
November 2, 2011
The 12-member jury in New York's Manhattan Federal Court found Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer dubbed 'the merchant of death,' guilty on all counts of conspiring to kill US servicemen during Colombia's fight against leftist rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
US prosecutors had charged Bout with running an illicit weapons smuggling network and selling hundreds of surface-to-air missiles, thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, five tons of C-4 explosives and millions of rounds of ammunition to FARC rebels.
Bout, who was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and then extradited to the United States in 2010, denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.
His capture in Thailand followed a sting operation conducted by the US Drug Enforcement Agency with agents posing as high-ranking members of the FARC guerrilla group. The Russian government protested his extradition, calling it politically motivated.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency, at the time of his arrest, called Bout "one of the most dangerous men on the face of the earth."
Prolific enabler of war
Bout is alleged to have been the world's biggest black-market arms dealer in the post-Cold War period. Bout says he was a private air transporter, sometimes carrying legal shipments of arms.
Bout's notoriety grew to near-legendary levels after the movie "Lord of War," inspired by his life and starring Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage, hit the cinemas in 2005.
The Russian's more extended resume allegedly includes extensive weapons deliveries to warring parties in Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
A prominent UN expert on arms trafficking and security issues, Kathi Lynn Austin, who founded the Conflict Awareness Project, expressed relief at Bout's conviction.
"The verdict in the Viktor Bout trial closes the book on one of the most prolific enablers of war, mass atrocities and terrorism in the post-Cold War era." Austin said in a statement.
Bout, who will be sentenced on February 8, now faces a minimum of 25 years in prison. Following Wednesday's verdict, his lawyers said he would appeal.
Author: Gregg Benzow (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Nancy Isenson