Viktor Bout: "The Merchant of Death"
Summary
TLDRThe script tells the story of Victor Bout, labeled 'The Merchant of Death,' who became infamous for arming conflicts worldwide. As a former Russian military officer, Bout evaded capture for years until a daring DEA undercover operation enticed him with a fake arms deal. Despite initial setbacks, the operation succeeded in Thailand, leading to his arrest. Bout's subsequent legal battle between the US and Russia ended with his extradition to the US, where he faced charges of conspiracy to kill Americans.
Takeaways
- π Victor Bout, known as 'The Merchant of Death', was one of the most notorious arms dealers globally, supplying weapons to fuel civil wars and arming terrorists.
- π·πΊ A former Russian military officer, Bout was protected by powerful friends and was considered 'untouchable' by law enforcement for a long time.
- π« Bout's operations escalated conflicts in West Africa by providing AK-47s and other advanced weaponry, turning young warriors into efficient killing machines.
- π The US government indicted Bout on four terror-related charges, including conspiracy to kill Americans, viewing him as a significant threat due to his ability to arm terrorist groups.
- βοΈ Bout owned a fleet of over 60 cargo airplanes, which he used to transport weapons and military equipment to remote locations worldwide.
- π₯ His story inspired the movie 'Lord of War', starring Nicolas Cage, further cementing his infamy as an equal opportunity arms dealer.
- πΌ US Treasury documents revealed Bout's empire was sophisticated and complex, hidden behind a network of front companies.
- π The DEA devised a bold undercover operation to capture Bout, involving a fake arms deal with a Colombian rebel group known as the FARC.
- πΉπ The operation culminated in Thailand, where Bout was lured under the guise of a significant arms deal, leading to his arrest by Thai authorities and the DEA.
- ποΈ Despite being in custody, Bout became the center of a legal battle between the US and Russia, with Russia attempting to delay his extradition to the US for over two and a half years.
Q & A
Who is Victor Bout and why was he wanted by the US government?
-Victor Bout, known as 'The Merchant of Death,' was an infamous arms dealer who became notorious for fueling civil wars around the world by supplying weapons to various conflict zones. The US government considered him a threat due to his ability to arm terrorists targeting the United States.
What was Victor Bout's background and how did he become involved in arms dealing?
-Victor Bout was a former Russian military officer who reportedly served in the Soviet Air Force and intelligence service. He first emerged in the late 1980s in West Africa, where he transformed conflicts by supplying large quantities of weapons, elevating the scale of violence.
How did the US government and DEA attempt to capture Victor Bout?
-The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) devised a bold undercover operation to capture Bout. They hired an undercover agent to pose as a business associate and lure Bout with a fake arms deal involving a large purchase of weapons by a Colombian rebel group.
What was the significance of the cargo airplanes in Bout's arms dealing operations?
-Bout owned a fleet of cargo airplanes, which were crucial to his operations as they allowed him to transport weapons and military equipment to any remote location globally with pinpoint accuracy, making him a one-stop shop for illicit arms.
How did the DEA's operation unfold to capture Victor Bout?
-The DEA's operation involved a series of meetings with Bout's associate, Andrew Smolan, and DEA undercover operatives posing as Colombian rebels. They created a scenario where Bout would be enticed to meet them in person to finalize a large arms deal, which eventually led to his capture in Bangkok.
Why was Victor Bout considered 'untouchable' by law enforcement?
-Bout was considered 'untouchable' due to his powerful connections, the complexity of his operations hidden behind front companies, and his ability to evade capture by remaining in countries like Russia, which protected him.
What was the role of Andrew Smolan in the DEA's operation to capture Victor Bout?
-Andrew Smolan was a trusted associate of Victor Bout. The DEA used an undercover agent to contact Smolan, presenting a fake arms deal that would eventually lead to Bout's capture by luring him out of Russia to meet with the supposed buyers.
How did the DEA ensure that Andrew Smolan would trust the fake arms deal?
-The DEA created a convincing scenario where their undercover operatives posed as officials from the Colombian rebel group FARC, expressing a desire to purchase millions of dollars worth of weapons. This, along with the use of Smolan's trust in the DEA's undercover agent, ensured his cooperation.
What challenges did the DEA face during the operation to capture Victor Bout?
-The DEA faced numerous challenges, including creating a believable arms deal, ensuring the trust of Bout's associate, and coordinating an international operation across multiple countries. Additionally, they had to deal with bureaucratic hurdles such as visa issues and the risk of Bout not leaving Russia.
How did Victor Bout's capture impact the US and Russia, and what were the legal consequences?
-Bout's capture led to a legal tug of war between the US and Russia, with Russia seeking his release. Bout pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to kill Americans. His case highlighted the complexities of international law enforcement and the challenges of extraditing criminals from one country to another.
Outlines
π« The Hunt for Victor Bout: The Merchant of Death
The first paragraph introduces Victor Bout, an infamous arms dealer known as 'The Merchant of Death,' who fueled civil wars globally and was a significant threat to the US due to his ability to arm terrorists. Bout, a former Russian military officer, operated with impunity due to his powerful connections. The US government, particularly the DEA, sought to capture him through a daring undercover operation. The narrative details Bout's rise in West Africa in the late 1980s, his transformation of conflicts with advanced weaponry, and his indictment by the US on terror-related charges. It also discusses his unique selling point of a private air force for weapon transportation and his influence as depicted in the movie 'Lord of War.'
π΅οΈββοΈ Undercover Operation: Luring Bout into the Open
The second paragraph delves into the DEA's strategy to lure Victor Bout out of Moscow with a fake arms deal. The DEA hired an undercover agent to contact Bout through Andrew Smolan, one of his associates. The plan was to present an irresistible arms deal, which would prompt Bout to leave Moscow. The DEA created a scenario involving a meeting on the island of Kuro, where Smolan would meet with DEA operatives posing as Colombian Rebel officials interested in purchasing weapons. The narrative highlights the tension and meticulous planning involved in setting up the meeting and the successful baiting of Bout, who agreed to the deal and revealed his identity, providing crucial evidence for the DEA's case.
π The Capture and Aftermath: Bout's Legal Battle
The third paragraph describes the final stages of the operation leading to Victor Bout's capture in Bangkok. The DEA insisted on a face-to-face meeting to finalize the arms deal, which Bout agreed to, leading to his arrival in Bangkok. The Thai police, in collaboration with the DEA, apprehended Bout at a hotel. The narrative recounts the moment of his arrest and the subsequent legal battle between the US and Russia for Bout's extradition. Despite Bout's claims of being a simple tourist, he was eventually extradited to the US, where he pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to kill Americans. The paragraph concludes with the DEA's satisfaction in capturing Bout, who was seen as a significant threat to global security.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Victor Bout
π‘Arms Dealer
π‘DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)
π‘Undercover Operation
π‘Terror Related Charges
π‘Soviet Air Force and Intelligence Service
π‘Illicit Arms Dealing
π‘FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia)
π‘Extradition
π‘Conspiring to Kill Americans
Highlights
Victor Bout, known as 'The Merchant of Death', is considered one of the world's most notorious arms dealers.
Bout's activities escalated civil wars globally, particularly in West Africa, by supplying large quantities of weapons.
He was sought by the US government due to his ability to arm terrorists targeting the United States.
Bout, a former Russian military officer, had powerful friends and was long considered untouchable by law enforcement.
The DEA devised a bold undercover operation to capture Bout after three years of pursuit.
Bout was involved in weaponizing civil wars in Africa, turning young warriors into efficient killing machines.
He was indicted by the US on four terror-related charges, including conspiracy to kill Americans.
Bout's operations were facilitated by a fleet of cargo airplanes, capable of delivering weapons globally.
He became a legend in the world of illicit arms dealing, with a sophisticated network hidden behind front companies.
The US government unwittingly contracted with Bout's companies for supplies in Iraq.
Bout's operations were so extensive that he was considered untouchable by the US government.
The DEA's plan to capture Bout involved creating a scenario to lure him out of Moscow with a fake arms deal.
An undercover agent contacted Bout's associate, Andrew Smolan, posing as a businessman with a large arms deal.
The DEA operatives posed as Colombian Rebel officials to negotiate a deal with Bout.
Bout agreed to supply millions of dollars worth of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles and AK-47s.
The operation to capture Bout spanned three continents and involved multiple meetings to establish trust.
Bout was finally lured to Bangkok, where Thai police and DEA agents arrested him after a two-hour meeting.
Bout's arrest led to a legal battle between the US and Russia, with Russia seeking his release.
After over two years, Bout was extradited to the US, where he pled not guilty to charges including conspiracy to kill Americans.
The successful operation to capture Bout was a significant achievement for the DEA and international law enforcement.
Transcripts
tonight CBS News correspondent Arman
Kayan on assignment for 60
Minutes rarely does the US government
want anyone more than it wanted this man
his name is Victor Boot and he's known
as The Merchant of death US government
officials say boot became the world's
most notorious arms dealer by fueling
Civil Wars around the world courted by
drug lords and dictators the US saw him
as a threat because of his ability to
arm terrorists targeting the United
States a former Russian military officer
boot has been protected by powerful
friends and long considered Untouchable
by law enforcement but 3 years ago the
DEA devised a bold undercover operation
to capture
him the story will continue in a
moment Victor boot uh in in my eyes um
is one of the most dangerous men on the
face of the Earth on the face of the
Earth without a doubt Mike Brawn the
former Chief of operations for the US
Drug Enforcement Administration told us
boot first exploded on the scene in war
torn West Africa in the late
1980s elevating bloody conflicts from
machetes and single shot rifles to
AK-47s not by the thousands but by the
tens of thousands so he weaponizes Civil
War in Africa he transformed these young
adolescent Warriors into uh Insidious
mindless maniacally driven killing
machines that operated with assembly
line efficiencies now 43 boot from the
Soviet Republic of Tajikistan is a
mystery man who reportedly served in the
Soviet Air Force and intelligence
service the US has indicted him on four
Terror related charges including
conspiracy to kill Americans what makes
him a threat to the United States he is
a shadow facilitator he arming not only
designated terrorist groups uh Insurgent
groups but he's also arming very
powerful drug trafficking cartels uh
around the globe taking advantage of
Russian military contacts at the highest
levels in the collapse of the Soviet
Union federal prosecutors alleged boot
essentially became a One-Stop shop
offering an unlimited supply of
stockpiled Cold War weapons to bad guys
around the world including Charles
Taylor of Liberia who is now on trial
for war crimes according to the US
indictment boot had a unique selling
point when it came to weapons
trafficking a fleet of cargo airplanes
capable of transporting weapons and
military equipment anytime anywhere more
than 60 planes in all his own private
Air Force those Russian aircraft uh were
built like flying dump trucks he could
move this stuff and drop it with
pinpoint accuracy to any Desert to any
jungle to any other remote place in the
world right into the hands of what I
refer to as the popery of global
scum by the late 1990s boot was a legend
in the shadowy world of illicit arms
dealing so elusive that the only two
pictures that surface of him back then
were taken without boot's knowledge by a
Belgian photographer later boot became
the inspiration behind the nickelus cage
character in the movie Lord of War I was
an equal opportunity Merchant of death I
supplied every Army but the Salvation
Army US Treasury documents reveal a boot
Empire So Sophisticated so complex
hidden behind a thick curtain of front
companies that even the US government
unwittingly contracted with two of his
companies to deliver supplies to US
troops in Iraq Juan Zara Deputy National
Security adviser in the second Bush
White House and a CBS News consultant
told us hiring boot was a mistake this
was one of the Grave complications for
the United States Victor boot's
tentacles reached so far and so deep
that he had uh access to uh planes that
could provide services for the US
government zaran admitted the us could
do business with boot but it couldn't
catch him I had always thought of Victor
boot as
Untouchable uh and I also frankly didn't
think uh that anyone could get to him a
challenge zarat from the White House
threw out at a meeting with Mike Brawn
and his EA team the DEA had just pulled
off a string of extraordinarily
successful captures of high value
terrorism targets around the world like
Afghan drug lords de agents live for the
hunt Mike noin had even gotten a sniff
on this guy let me tell you something
Armen when when I'm I'm sitting there
next to Juan and my guys are sitting
across the table from him the very best
that our government's got to offer and
he tosses this out on the table and I
look him in the eyes and they're looking
back at me like we'll do this this we
can do this but it was about a 5% chance
in the back of my mind and so um you
know I wished them well uh and I went
back to the White House Mike Braun's
thinking 95% okay 5 95 make 100 he was
he was going down he was in our
crosshairs the DEA supervisor put in
charge of the hunt for Victor Bo was
Lewis milone we felt that we could
create a scenario that would uh that
would pull him in the plan was to pull
boot out of Moscow with a huge arms deal
he couldn't refuse to do that the DEA
hired an undercover agent to contact a
trusted associate of boots named Andrew
smolan the DEA operative said he had a
big business deal for boot I'm thinking
in terms of fishing here it's almost
like you've thrown the line in the water
there's a little bit of bait this is a
business proposition and you're waiting
to see if anything comes back with a
nibble we're really waiting to see what
yeah exactly what what sman says and um
you know what he says about Boot and as
it comes back spoke to Boris anything
possible with farming equipment that's
correct Boris was code for boot farming
equipment for weapons that exchange led
to the island of Kuro few hundred miles
off the coast of Colombia it was here
that boot's bunny Andrew smolan would
first meet the two DEA undercover
operatives posing as officials in the
Colombian Rebel terrorist group group
known as the farc the two fake Rebels
Eduardo and El kandante would say they
want to buy millions of dollars worth of
weapons to fight the Colombian Army and
the US military Pilots protecting them
simoan has to believe that Eduardo and
El kandante are real right if sman
doesn't believe it we're done and um
then we go home the meeting is about to
take
place what's your temperature like your
heart rate goes is up a little bit and
your adrenaline's going a little bit you
have butterflies emotions that only
escalated when at this hotel in kurau
the fake Rebels tell smoon boot's buddy
they want to spend $12 million on
everything from sniper rifles to surfac
to a missiles he bites off on it in fact
he eats the whole thing whole so it was
it was very successful so successful
Simoleon immediately flew to Moscow to
present the deal to Boris the man the
DEA believes is boot two weeks later in
another meeting this time in Copenhagen
sman told the DEA operatives that his
Russian business partner really like the
deal and then he revealed who that man
in Moscow really is you know who this
man is that we're getting the weapons
from this is boot b t he's wanted by the
world they call him The Merchant of
death b o u t yeah he spelled it out for
him we were marveled that sman would do
that but it was just great evidence the
DEA was in the game
but boot was still safe and secure in
Russia and reluctant to leave the DEA
Undercovers insisted they couldn't go to
Moscow but had to meet boot to seal the
deal and boot's going to know that
that's how these deals are going to work
commandante is not going to release
these millions of dollars for these
weapons to anybody until he at least
shakes hands talks looks boot in the eye
and then we can move on that's how we
countered and and boot went for it next
stop Romania just 3 days later the play
was to entice boot to Bucharest claiming
that's where the money was stashed to
pay for the weapons boot said he'd come
but then he had trouble getting a Visa
the case stalled after 10 days of
waiting for boot the top DEA agent made
a gutsy call to walk away so you've been
chasing this guy hard for two months
you're almost got him and you got to
make the decision to step away from the
table if we were real we wouldn't stay
there forever we're going to now step
away and say look we need to take care
of some other things but it's time for
us to leave over the next two weeks
milone came up with a new plan to reel
boot in the phony Rebels told boot they
would be in Bangkok soon asked if he
could get there boot agreed the morning
boot arrived in Bangkok the DEA and Thai
police had gathered downtown waiting for
word from cops at the airport that The
Merchant of death had landed they call
us in the room and they tell us that
he's
here what was the the moment like there
it was just unbelievable because we knew
at that point you know you're kind of
like holding on as you climb up the
mountain at different points in the
investigation this was one where at that
point I believed and the other
investigators believed not only are we
in the game he shows up at this meeting
we've got him he's going to be
arrested boot drove to this hotel and
met the two fake arms buyers in a
conference room on the 27th floor here
the the dea's undercover team told boot
they want his weapons to kill Americans
the commandante and Eduardo make it very
clear he said we're fighting against the
United States boot responds and says
look they're after me too he said but we
are together in this they are my enemy
also Eduardo and commandante talk about
how they want sniper sights for the
rifles that they have so that they could
quote start blowing the heads off
American Pilots boot's response
immediately is yes then the DEA said
bootn down on these Pages what he
intended to deliver for $12 million
including between 7 and 800 surface to
air missiles 5000 AK-47s anti-personnel
mines fragmentation grenades um
armor-piercing Rockets moneya laundering
services and all within the context of
speaking about a shared ideology of
Communism and fighting against the
Americans after 2 hours one of the DEA
Undercovers made a call a signal it was
time to move in within minutes the Thai
police and DEA agents burst into the
room we see boot across the far end of
like a boardroom type table standing up
with his hands inside his briefcase and
they give him the command to put his
hands up and he hesitates and they
immediately focused in with their
weapons and gave them the command again
are you thinking we've come all this way
to see Victor boot shot by a Thai
policeman the thought did cross my mind
that something really bad is happen to
him right here but then he complied it
turned out there was no weapon in the
briefcase the disarming of Victor boot
was now officially complete the ties
cuff him he's taken into custody sman is
taken into custody does boot say
anything the game is over or something
like that the game is over right but
then a new game began boot became the
center of a legal tug of war between the
US and Russia which wanted him released
back to Moscow boot said he only went to
Thailand as a simple tourist not an arms
dealer butin the Russians managed to
delay his extradition to America for
more than 2 and 1/2 years but last
Tuesday after a sting that played out on
three continents the DEA finally got
their man they flew him to New York
where he pled not guilty to charges
including conspiracy to kill Americans
when boot wrote Under tight security in
a convoy to jail in Manhattan riding
right along with him was luk milon this
is the Lord of
War The Merchant of death right and
you've got him in your hands right he's
in custody it's a great feeling it's an
absolutely great
feeling
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