The Los Angeles Times reports that Moscow insists Viktor Bout is an innocent businessman, not an arms dealer. The so-called merchant of death arrives in New York from Bangkok to face four terrorism charges.
The extradition of alleged Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout from Thailand to the United States on Tuesday drew sharp protests from Russian officials, who insist the so-called merchant of death is an innocent businessman.
Bout, a former Soviet air force officer who reportedly maintains strong ties to Russian intelligence, had been put aboard a chartered plane under tight security in Bangkok and arrived in suburban New York in manacles late
Tuesday. He faces four federal terrorism charges, U.S. officials said.
Bout, 43, reputed to be one of the world's most prolific arms dealers, was arrested in March 2008 in Bangkok as part of a U.S.-Thai sting operation in which agents posed as arms buyers for the rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Some analysts believe Russian officials fear Bout could spill secrets to the United States about Russian intelligence-gathering.
Bout was photographed in Bangkok boarding a plane in a helmet and body armor — suggesting U.S. authorities feared someone might try to kill him as he departed.
A Bangkok criminal court in October dismissed money-laundering and wire fraud charges against Bout that probably would have delayed extradition further.
Thailand has been a key U.S. ally and enjoys strong exports to the United States, but U.S. officials say they exerted no pressure on Thailand to give up Bout.
