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Victor Bout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Viktor Anatolyevich Bout (born January 13, 1967) is a Russian former KGB major and arms dealer [1], nicknamed "the Merchant of Death".[2] According to Lee S. Wolosky, he is "the most powerful player in the trafficking of illegal arms" [1]. He is the subject of a book by that name written by Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun[3] (Bout is not the first to bear the title: it appeared in a premature obituary of Alfred Nobel, which ultimately inspired him to create the Nobel Prizes).

Recent reports suggest Research: Media reports, he is also operating in Iraq using front companies and Cargo Airlifts (Airline Transport, Air West, Aerocom and TransAvia Export). Bout came to officials' attention in the 1990s, when he was accused of supplying arms to rebels in West Africa after a cease-fire agreement had been brokered. At that time he owned or was using many airlines, including Air Cess and Centrafrican, which were later forced to shut down by authorities. He also supplied arms to the deposed regime of Charles Taylor in Liberia.

In May 2006, when 200,000 AK-47 assault rifles allegedly went missing in transit from Bosnia to Iraq, one of Bout's airlines was the carrier.[4] Bout's business partner is Hasan Čengić, the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to Slobodna Bosna and Douglas Farah.[5][6]

Yuri Orlov, Nicolas Cage's character in the 2005 film Lord of War is said[7][8][9] to be partially based on Viktor Bout.