Merchant of death faces life in jail
November 3, 2011
A Russian air freight boss dubbed the “Merchant of Death” was yesterday convicted of trying to make millions of dollars by selling heavy weaponry to a terror group so it could attack US forces helping the Colombian government.
Viktor Bout, who ran an air freight company in South Africa called Air Pass, was arrested three years ago at the five-star Sofitel Hotel in Bangkok, while negotiating with US agents posing as guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Yesterday, a jury in Manhattan convicted Bout of conspiracy to kill Americans and US officials, delivering anti-aircraft missiles and aiding a terrorist organisation.
He faces a life sentence when he next appears before the court in February.
Bout is said to have been the inspiration behind the Hollywood movie, Lord of War, starring Nicolas Cage
