The global arms trade is once again facing scrutiny as notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout re-emerges in the market following his release from a U.S. prison.
Supply Arms to Houthi Militants
Bout, known for his extensive history of trafficking weapons, has reportedly resumed negotiations to supply arms to the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
This comes just two years after being released in a high-profile prisoner swap with the U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner. Bout, who was dubbed the "Merchant of Death," had previously been imprisoned in the U.S. for arms trafficking but was freed in a deal brokered between Russia and the U.S. in 2022.
According to reports by Ziare, Bout is now said to be involved in efforts to broker arms deals for Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
Citing anonymous European security sources, the reports suggest that Bout met with Houthi representatives in Moscow in August 2023.
The militants were allegedly negotiating a $10 million deal for small arms, including automatic weapons. While these arms have not yet been transferred, the re-emergence of Bout in the arms trade has raised concerns.
Notorious Arms Trafficker
Bout had been one of the world's most notorious arms traffickers, operating across corrupt states and war-torn regions in Africa, Asia, and South America.
His life even inspired the 2005 Hollywood film Lord of War, starring Nicolas Cage.
Bout was captured in 2008 during a sting operation in Thailand and later extradited to the U.S., where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiring to sell arms to Colombian rebels.
After his release, Bout returned to Russia, joined the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), and kept a relatively low profile. His reported involvement with Houthi militants marks a potential return to his old line of work, just months after being released.
For now, his lawyer has refused to comment on the allegations.
