Viktor Bout Indicted by US Authorities

Alleged international arms dealer Viktor Bout, arrested in March in Thailand during a joint operation involving agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week on charges of conspiracy and supporting terrorism.^[1]

As previously reported in this blog, Bout had been accused of trafficking arms to various blacklisted rebel groups and governments, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department. Thai officials eventually dropped criminal charges against Bout, who denies any illegal activity, but American officials have continued to press for his extradition to face charges in the US.^[2]

In the indictment, Bout has been charged with conspiracy to kill US nationals, including government officials and employees, as well as conspiracy to provide material support to a designated terrorist group. Long wanted by authorities for supporting violence in conflict zones in Africa, Central Asia, and South America, it is alleged that Bout has earned extensive profits for his weapons supply business. In 2005, the US Treasury Department claimed Bout made as much as $50 million for supplying the Taliban with weapons during their rule in Afghanistan.^[3]

Bout had been living openly in Moscow, but was lured away from his home to allegedly close an arms deal worth $15-20 million. After a series of meetings in November 2007 and March 2008 with two undercover DEA informants, Bout reportedly agreed to provide FARC with missiles, automatic weapons, and armor piercing rocket launchers. The alleged deal was set to be completed in Bangkok on March 6, during a meeting where DEA agents claimed to have recorded Bout claiming that he could supply FARC with "700 to 800 surface to air missiles, 5,000 AK-47 firearms &[and] millions of rounds of ammunition,"^[4] as well as land mines, explosives, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Bout was arrested following this meeting.^[5]

If convicted, Bout could receive life in prison for charges related to conspiracy to commit murder, and up to 25 years in prison for providing material support to terrorists.^[6]


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[1] Jason Ryan, Merchant of Death Charged in US, ABC News Online, April 6, 2008 (available at www.abcnews.com).

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.