US tries to extradict Russian ‘Merchant of Death’
Monday, September 22nd 2008, 11:56 AM
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Alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout looks at photographers while sitting in custody at criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday. |
BANGKOK, Thailand – A Russian man whose extradition is being sought by the United States is one of the world’s biggest arms dealers, a U.S. agent testified Monday in Thai court.
Alleged arms trafficker Viktor Bout has been indicted in the U.S. on four terrorism-related charges. He was arrested in Thailand on March 6.
The 41-year-old Russian has been dubbed “The Merchant of Death,” by the media, but he denies any involvement in illicit activities. He was purportedly the model for the arms dealer portrayed by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 movie “Lord of War.”