Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death,” is reportedly back in the arms trade less than a year after being released from a U.S. prison in a controversial prisoner swap involving WNBA star Brittney Griner.
Bout, 57, was freed in December 2022 as part of an exchange between the Biden-Harris administration and Russia, trading Griner’s release for Bout’s freedom. Griner had been arrested in Russia for marijuana possession and spent 10 months detained.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Bout has resumed his infamous trade, allegedly selling $10 million worth of arms to Houthi rebels in Yemen.
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The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, are considered a terrorist group by the U.S. government. This revelation is raising alarms about the consequences of the prisoner exchange deal brokered by the Biden-Harris administration.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed the report, calling it “fake,” but U.S. intelligence and defense officials are reportedly taking the information seriously.
Bout’s return to arms dealing underscores concerns that many had when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris agreed to the high-profile swap.
Bout had been serving a 25-year sentence in the United States after being convicted in 2011 of conspiring to kill Americans, acquiring and exporting anti-aircraft missiles, and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
Known for fueling conflicts in some of the world’s most war-torn regions, Bout was a major figure in the illicit global arms trade for decades.
Bout was arrested in 2008 in Thailand in a U.S. sting operation and was subsequently extradited to the U.S.
His arms dealing was notorious for supplying weapons to groups engaged in violent conflicts across Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
His clients reportedly included former Liberian President Charles Taylor, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and rebel factions involved in civil wars in Angola and Colombia.
At the time of his arrest, Bout was also linked to supplying weapons to FARC rebels in Colombia, who were involved in a long-standing conflict with the Colombian government.
The arms dealer’s activities were so widespread that he became the inspiration for the 2005 Hollywood film Lord of War, starring Nicholas Cage.
The prisoner swap that led to Bout’s release sparked controversy within the U.S., as many criticized the decision to free such a dangerous individual in exchange for a celebrity athlete.
Griner, who was detained in Russia in February 2022 after being found with cannabis oil vape cartridges at a Moscow airport, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony for drug smuggling.
Her arrest came during heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia, following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Critics of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the exchange have argued that the deal was lopsided, releasing a notorious arms dealer with a history of arming terrorist organizations and fueling global conflicts in exchange for Griner, a professional basketball player arrested for a minor drug offense.
This latest revelation about Bout’s return to arms dealing is likely to fuel further criticism, with opponents questioning the wisdom of the decision.
Bout’s renewed involvement in the arms trade also raises concerns about the potential impact on ongoing conflicts, particularly in Yemen, where the Houthi rebels are engaged in a violent civil war.
The arms deal reportedly involving Bout could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region, where millions are suffering due to the conflict.
As the Biden-Harris administration continues to face criticism over its foreign policy decisions, the case of Viktor Bout serves as a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of such high-profile prisoner swaps.
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