‘Merchant of Death’ allegedly returns to arms trade after US release

VIKTOR BOUT, THE NOTORIOUS RUSSIAN ARMS DEALER OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE ‘MERCHANT OF DEATH,’ IS REPORTEDLY BACK IN THE ARMS TRADE, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. 

BOUT… RELEASED IN 2022 AS PART OF A HIGH-PROFILE U-S RUSSIA PRISONER SWAP FOR AMERICAN BASKETBALL PLAYER BRITTNEY GRINER, IS NOW ALLEGED TO BE BROKERING WEAPONS DEALS FOR THE IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI REBELS IN YEMEN.

BOUT WAS ORIGINALLY SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN A U-S PRISON FOR CONSPIRING TO SELL WEAPONS TO A COLOMBIAN TERRORIST GROUP, WITH THE INTENT TO KILL AMERICANS. ARRESTED IN 2008 DURING A U-S STING OPERATION, HIS ARMS DEALINGS SPANNED DECADES, SUPPLYING CONFLICTS ACROSS AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

NOW BOUT IS REPORTEDLY FACILITATING THE SALE OF RUSSIAN ARMS TO THE HOUTHIS, INCLUDING AK-74 RIFLES AND POSSIBLY MORE ADVANCED WEAPONS, WITH DELIVERIES DISGUISED AS FOOD SHIPMENTS. THE U-S AND ITS ALLIES HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN, AS HOUTHI FORCES HAVE BEEN LAUNCHING ATTACKS ON MERCHANT VESSELS IN THE RED SEA. THESE NEW ARMS DEALS COULD FURTHER ESCALATE TENSIONS IN THE REGION, POTENTIALLY THREATENING U-S FORCES.

WHILE BOUT DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT, THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE DEALS ARE SIGNIFICANT, NOT ONLY FOR U-S MILITARY INTERESTS BUT ALSO FOR REGIONAL STABILITY IN THE RED SEA.

FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.