Surprise US extradition of ‘Merchant of Death’

A SUSPECTED Russian arms dealer dubbed the “Merchant of Death” was flown out of Thailand to face trial in the United States following a long legal battle and fierce opposition from Moscow.

The inspiration for the Hollywood film Lord of War, Viktor Bout has been accused of using a fleet of cargo planes to deliver arms in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Escorted by dozens of armed police commandos and with snipers deployed along the route, Bout was whisked from a maximum security Bangkok prison to a waiting US government plane before his wife had a chance to say goodbye.