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'Merchant of Death,' Viktor Bout, Extradited to New York City

By DNAinfo Staff on November 16, 2010 3:31pm  | Updated on November 17, 2010 10:06am

Alleged Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout arriving at a Bangkok airport for extradition to the United States.
Alleged Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout arriving at a Bangkok airport for extradition to the United States.
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AP Photo

By Jordan Heller

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — The world's most notorious arms trafficker, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," was extradited to New York City from Thailand late Tuesday.

Viktor Bout, 43, was put aboard a plane in Bangkok headed for New York City at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday after a lengthy legal battle between Washington and Moscow. Russia wanted the former Soviet air force officer returned home, but instead he will face terrorism charges in the U.S., according to the New York Post.

He arrived at Westchester County Airport before being brought to Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center.

"Viktor Bout has been indicted in the United States, but his alleged arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts in Africa has been a cause of concern around the world. His extradition is a victory for the rule of law worldwide," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement Wednesday. 

Arms dealer Viktor Bout arrived in New York City after being extradited from Thailand.
Arms dealer Viktor Bout arrived in New York City after being extradited from Thailand.
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U.S. Department of Justice

"Long considered one of the world’s most prolific arms traffickers, Mr. Bout will now appear in federal court in Manhattan to answer to charges of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a terrorist organization for use in trying to kill Americans."

Bout was arrested in Bangkok in March 2008 in an operation led by U.S. agents. He is accused of supplying weapons to rogue regimes and terrorist groups, according to the Washington Post.

Among his clinents: Al-Quaeda, the Taliban, Liberia's Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, reports say.

Despite Bout's notoriety, his extradition has prompted outcry from Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the extradition as "unlawful," reported the Post.

"From a legal point of view what has happened cannot have any rational explanation or justification," the ministry said in a statement, calling the extradition the result of "unprecedented political pressure from the USA."

Russia contends that Bout is innocent, but experts say the alleged arms dealer has knowledge of Russian military and intelligence operations, which Moscow doesn't want revealed to U.S. agents, reported the Post.