Thailand extradites Russian arms suspect to U.S.

[Gan Ning]

Thailand extradites Russian arms suspect to U.S.

By Pracha Hariraksapita and Ambika Ahuja
BANGKOK | Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:52am EST

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand extradited suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the United States to face terrorism charges Tuesday, ending a two-year wrangle between the two old Cold War foes. The 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," was flown out of Bangkok on a small, chartered U.S. aircraft shortly after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his cabinet cleared the extradition.

Bout had been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest in Bangkok in a U.S.-led sting operation. Russia's Foreign Ministry said earlier Bout faced a politically motivated extradition that could undermine strengthening U.S.-Russian ties and undo the White House's efforts to "reset" relations. In a surprise move, the Thai cabinet officially acknowledged the U.S. extradition request, clearing the last hurdle for Bout's departure to face trial in a U.S. court.

Bout faces U.S. accusations of trafficking arms since the 1990s to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. Dozens of policemen and masked commandos guarded the entrance of Bangkok's maximum-security Bangkwang prison where Bout had been detained. He was taken from prison in a speeding van with darkened windows, escorted by several security vehicles.

A court had cleared the way for Bout's extradition but the executive branch could have blocked it if it had been deemed detrimental to foreign relations or harmful to the individuals involved. "The cabinet acknowledges the appeal court's judgment that the case was not a political one so we did not oppose his extradition," Deputy Prime Minister Trirong Suwannakhiri told Reuters.

Bout's lawyer said he had been informed his client had been sent to the United States and he would continue to fight the case. The cabinet's decision was a violation of "due process" as a request for a retrial for Bout was pending, he said. Bout, who has long evaded U.N. and U.S. sanctions aimed at blocking his finances and restricting his travels, had called the charges against him an "American fantasy," insisting he was an innocent businessman.

A top security Thai official said he doubted Bout's extradition would damage relations with Russia. "It's a political dilemma for Thailand but we have to stick to due court process," said Thawil Pliensee, secretary-general of the National Security Council. "I think Russia will understand." There was no immediate reaction from Russia. A U.S. embassy spokesman declined to comment.

Bout, an inspiration for the Hollywood movie, "Lord of War," starring Nicholas Cage, had been held in prison since his arrest at a luxury Bangkok hotel in a joint U.S.-Thai sting operation in which agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The U.S. classifies the Colombian group as a terrorist organization.

 

[Gan Ning]

Suspected arms smuggler Viktor Bout from Russia looks on from behind bars at a criminal court in Bangkok in this October 4, 2010 file photo. Bout was flown out of Thailand on a charter flight to the United States on November 16, 2010, an airport official said, following the government's decision to extradite him.

Security officers from the Special Operations Unit stand guard while a procession of vehicles escort suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout as he leaves from Bangkwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, November 16, 2010. Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was flown out of Thailand on a charter flight to the United States on Tuesday, an airport official said, following the government's decision to extradite him.

Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout waits in a holding cell after arriving at a courthouse in Bangkok in this February 16, 2010 file photo. Bout was flown out of Thailand on a charter flight to the United States on November 16, 2010, an airport official said,
following the government's decision to extradite him.


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[Gan Ning]

Armed guards stand outside Bangkwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, November 16, 2010. Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was flown out of Thailand on a charter flight to the United States on Tuesday, an airport official said,
following the government's decision to extradite him.

Alla Bout, wife of suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, holds food as she arrives at Bangkwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, November 16, 2010. Viktor Bout was flown out of Thailand on a charter flight to the United States on Tuesday, an airport official said,
following the government's decision to extradite him.

An armed guard gestures as he stands outside Bangkwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, November 16, 2010. Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was flown out of Thailand on a charter flight to the United States on Tuesday, an airport official said,
following the government's decision to extradite him.


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[Maeda Keiji]

Thailand extradites Russian arms suspect to U.S.

By Tony Pyle
NEW YORK | Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:47am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout arrived in New York from Thailand on Tuesday to face U.S. terrorism charges, the Justice Department said. The 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," faces U.S. accusations of trafficking arms since the 1990s to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Bout was flown from Bangkok to an airport near New York City on a small chartered U.S. aircraft, the Justice Department said. "Viktor Bout has been indicted in the United States, but his alleged arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts in Africa has been a cause of concern around the world. His extradition is a victory for the rule of law worldwide," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

"Long considered one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers, Mr. Bout will now appear in federal court in Manhattan to answer to charges of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a terrorist organization for use in trying to kill Americans," Holder said. Bout had been fighting extradition since he was arrested in Bangkok in March 2008 in a U.S.-led sting operation.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cleared the extradition, despite Russia saying it was illegal and could undermine U.S.-Russian ties. Russia's Foreign Ministry has described Bout's extradition as politically motivated and said that it could undermine strengthening U.S.-Russian ties and undo President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" strained relations.

'POLITICAL PRESSURE'

"It is deeply regrettable that the Thai authorities have yielded to political pressure from outside and carried out this illegal extradition of V.A. Bout," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The State Department, which pushed for Bout's extradition, said it was confident there would be no effect on ties. "Bout is really the bin Laden of the clandestine arms trade," said a U.S. government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case involves classified information.

A Thai court cleared the way for Bout's extradition, but the government could have blocked it if it had been deemed detrimental to foreign relations or harmful to the individuals involved. Abhisit said he did not think relations with Russia would worsen, adding that Thailand had explained the legal process to Russia and the United States. "Our job was to decide and do what was right. It's not possible to please everyone," Abhisit said.

"The cabinet decision was based on the court ruling that the case was not political and that there was no reason not to extradite him." Bout's lawyer said he would continue to fight the case. The Thai cabinet's decision was a violation of "due process" because a request for a retrial for Bout was pending, he said. Bout, who has long evaded U.N. and U.S. sanctions aimed at blocking his finances and restricting his travels, had called the charges against him an "American fantasy," insisting he was an innocent businessman.

An inspiration for the Hollywood movie "Lord of War" starring Nicholas Cage, Bout had been held in prison since his arrest at a luxury Bangkok hotel in a joint U.S.-Thai sting operation in which agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The United States classifies the Colombian group as a terrorist organization.

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chaiwat Subprasom, Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, and Andrew Quinn and David Morgan in Washington; writing by Michelle Nichols; editing by Edith Honan and Mohammad Zargham)

 

[Maeda Keiji]

Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (C) is escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers after arriving at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York November 16, 2010.

Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (C) is escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers after arriving at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York November 16, 2010. Bout arrived in New York from Thailand on Tuesday to face U.S. terrorism charges, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout enters a Bangkok criminal court October 5, 2010.


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[zuoom]

why would the DEA be involved in this arms issue?

think this movie is based loosely around this guy.

Lord of War
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399295/

 

[kensington]

Thai is the most por lum par nation in this part of our world. They just can't say no to Uncle Sam.

It would be interesting if the fugitive is one of the Chinaman wanted by the CPC but welcome by the West since the Thais are now sucking up to the Chinese as well if not more.

Bout should have dropped the T in his name and claims to be a Chinaman:o