05 October 2010

Notorious Arms Dealer Extradition Back On

After a legal hurdle in Thailand is cleared, Viktor Bout's extradition to the US is moving forward.

A Thai court has dismissed charges of money laundering and fraud against alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout, removing the last legal obstacle for his extradition to the US.

Mr Bout was to be extradited in August, to face trial for conspiring to sell weapons to a Colombian rebel group.

But it was postponed while the extra charges brought by the US were heard.

The US and Russia have been squabbling over his fate since his 2008 arrest in a joint Thai-US sting operation.

After more than 15 years of allegedly running guns to African warlords and Islamic militants, Mr Bout was arrested at a Bangkok hotel by US agents posing as Colombian FARC rebels, after he allegedly tried to sell them weapons.


By: Brant

No comments: