US prosecutors filed new charges this week in their global pursuit of the suspected Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, dubbed the ‘Merchant of Death’. The updated indictment charges that Bout and his former business associate, Richard Chichakli – a Syrian-born American last reported to be living in Moscow - conspired to violate United Nations sanctions aimed at stopping bloody fighting in Africa by using a series of shell companies to try to purchase two planes from US … [Read more...] about US tightens noose on ‘Merchant of Death’
Merchant of Death
Thai “Merchant of Death†verdict in August
Judges in Thailand said they would give until 30 June for closing statements on a US request for the extradition of a Russian who is alleged to be an international arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death." Viktor Bout has been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest in Bangkok on charges that he peddled weapons that were used in some of the world's most violent conflicts, to customers including Al-Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf (Philippines), Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone, the … [Read more...] about Thai “Merchant of Death†verdict in August
