WAR: Global Arms - Trafficking Network Designated by US (Update: Viktor Bout Extradited)

While all arms dealers should be put in the same boat and sunk let us not forget the largest arms dealers....

I hope this table comes out right, otherwise go here for the Wiki.

en.wikipedia.org...

The unit in this table are so-called trend indicater values expressed in millions of US dollars. These values do not represent real financial flows but are a crude instrument to estimate volumes of arms transfers, regardless of the contracted prices, which can be as low as zero in the case of military aid. Ordered by descending 2007 values.

Current Rank ↓ Supplier ↓ 2000 ↓ 2001 ↓ 2002 ↓ 2003 ↓ 2004 ↓ 2005 ↓ 2006 ↓ 2007 ↓ 2008 ↓
1 United States USA 7505 5801 4984 5581 6616 7026 7821 7454
2 Russia Russia 4190 5631 5458 5355 6400 5576 6463 4588
3 Germany Germany 1622 825 910 1707 1017 1879 2891 3395
4 France France 1033 1235 1342 1313 2267 1688 1586 2690
5 Ukraine Ukraine 280 649 440[11] 530[11] 600[12] 700 1000[13] 1395[13]

I happened upon an article mentioning Viktor Bout. Its in Romanian and google doesn't translate it very well. It links to some document that seem to implicate someone dealing with Viktor's Air shipments of missles to Azerbaijan or Uzbekistan?

Hopefully someone can understand better and explain?

Google English Translation

original link in Romanian

Benoni Urey

Benoni Urey, now Mayor of Careysburg, was a key player within Charles Taylor's team on purchasing weapons from Viktor Bout.


Liberia: 'Merchants of Death'

18 December 2009


The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) has provided specifics on key players in weapons purchase with ordered access to the country's finances, listing former Maritime Commissioner Benoni Urey, now Mayor of Careysburg, as the liaison in dealing with and purchasing weapons from Viktor Bout

[---]

Referred by the former US National Security Council member Lee S. Wolosky as "the most powerful player in the trafficking of illegal arms, " the TRC report says his contact person within Chares Taylor's team during the Liberian war was Mr. Urey.

[---]

Urey allegedly embezzled funds from the Liberian International Shipping and Corporate Registry (LISCR) that were used to purchase weapons, helped manage LSC and was a primary point of contact between the Taylor regime and Viktor Bout.

Viktor Bout plane transporting weapons from North Korea to Iran?

A plane transporting arms (from North Korea?) was busted in Thailand on December 11. It was allegedly transporting weapons to Iran.



TIME: New Job for Ex-Soviet Pilots: Arms Trafficking

Dec. 17, 2009


In its hull, police found 35 tons of explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and components for surface-to-air missiles, all being transported from North Korea in breach of U.N. sanctions.

[---]

Griffiths says the plane was previously registered to a company that has links to self-professed Serbian gunrunner Tomislav Damnjanovic and to three companies controlled by Bout, who has been dubbed the "Merchant of Death"

The Yorkshire Ranter: look what the cat dragged in

December 16, 2009


[---]That, however, was enough to find the serial number (3426765). And what did we find in the database for that?

4L-AWA is none other than Air Pass/Air Cess’s Swazi registry 3D-RTA, Centrafricain Airlines’ TL-ACY, and GST Aero’s UN-76007 – to put it another way, it’s been with Viktor Bout companies since 1997

[---]

Supposedly it was carrying a sizable cargo of arms from North Korea declared as “oil drilling equipment”. (wot no fish?) I don’t know where to, or whether there is truth to the North Korean bit, but it was an aircraft well worth stopping on suspicion based on an asset operating history analysis.

[---]

Wild speculation would be that this can’t help Viktor Bout’s case very much and that therefore this is quite a coup.

AsiaOne: Thai police check phone records of arms plane crew

Dec 19, 2009


The source said Viktor Bout, an arms dealer who is being detained at the same prison awaiting a court order over an extradition request from the US authorities, had not been visited or questioned by any Thai or foreign security authorities, despite media speculation that he may have been involved with the smuggling operation.

Wall Street Journal: Arms Seized by Thailand Were Iran-Bound

A flight plan for the IL-76, obtained by researchers in the U.S. and Belgium, shows that after Bangkok the plane was due to make refueling stops in Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine before unloading its cargo in Tehran.

UPI.com: Seized North Korean arms 'bound for Iran'

Dec. 21, 2009


A planeload of North Korean arms seized in Bangkok was reportedly bound for Iran, which has been buying up large amounts of weaponry in recent months as it braces for a possible onslaught by Israel, and possibly the United States.

[---]

The aircraft had previously been registered with three companies identified by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control as controlled by Viktor Bout, arguably the world's most infamous arms trafficker

It is said that the flight engineer of the detained aircraft, (Mikhail Petukhov from Belarus), and Viktor Bout served together in the 339 VTAP Soviet Airforce based in Vitebsk .

Vitebsk is an air base in Belarus located 8 km northeast of Vitebsk. It is a small airfield complex with a single large tarmac. It was home to 339 VTAP (339th Military Air Transport Regiment), flying 32 Ilyushin Il-76 cargo jets as well as Antonov An-22 planes .

Although it is widely reported that the aircraft is registered in Georgia, it is not widely reported that the airlines office is physically located in Moscow.



[edit on 12/21/09 by makeitso]

Alliance

Various neo-paramilitary groups, drug cartels, left-wing guerrillas and a Russian trafficking syndicate has apparently formed an alliance in Colombia. Arms- and drug- trafficking...


Paramilitaries form drug-trafficking alliance with guerrillas

19 April 2010


A article published Saturday in El Tiempo documents the intertwined networks that exist between Colombia's various neo-paramilitary groups, drug cartels, left-wing guerrillas, and a Russian trafficking syndicate, all of whom have entered into an alliance to move arms into Colombia while moving coc aine out.

According to El Tiempo, various illegal armed groups in Colombia have - despite historical ideological differences - managed to come to agreements to work together in the arms and drug trade.

[---]

Evidence taken from computers seized from the FARC reveals not only the connections between the FARC and paramilitary organizations which emerged after the demobilization of the AUC coalition, such as the relationship between FARC's 30th Front and the "Los Rastrojos" gang, but also between the FARC and a Russian arms smuggling syndicate.

Authorities report that the notorious Russian arms dealer, Victor Bout, who was captured in Thailand in 2008 and is awaiting extradition to the United States, had dealings with the FARC.

Viktor Bout's case dropped

Viktor Bout's case against a DEA officer has been dropped by Thai court.


RIA Novosti: Thai court throws out Russian arms dealer's claim

26/04/2010


A Bangkok court on Monday dismissed a claim by alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout against a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officer.

Former Russian army officer Bout, 43, remains in custody in a Thai jail after the Bangkok Criminal Court refused in August to extradite him to the United States, where he is facing four terrorism-related charges and a possible life sentence.

The Washington Times: Arms dealer Bout gets boot in Thai court

April 27, 2010


A Thai criminal court dismissed Monday a claim by international arms dealer Viktor Bout, the so-called "Merchant of Death," that his March 2008 arrest by Royal Thai Police in Bangkok was illegal because a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent assisted in the apprehension.

Charles Taylor War Crimes Trial

Supermodel Naomi Campbell allegedly receieved a huge "blood diamond" from Charles Taylor. She is set to testify in The Hague.


Naomi Campbell given ‘blood’ diamond by African leader, war crimes trial told

May 21, 2010


The British supermodel is set to play a starring role in the trial at The Hague of Charles Taylor, the former Liberian President. International prosecutors asked UN judges yesterday to force Ms Campbell to testify over allegations that she received a huge “blood diamond” from the besotted Liberian strongman.

[---]

The UN Special Court for Sierra Leone in January heard claims that Mr Taylor gave Ms Campbell a “large diamond” after a September 1997 dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela.

Ms Campbell was a guest of Mr Mandela on board the Blue Train, a luxury South African rail service. Also on the trip was Mia Farrow, the actress. Mr Taylor later joined the party for dinner.

The claim about the diamond was first made by Ms Farrow, now an outspoken campaigner on African issues.

Naomi Campbell called to testify over alleged blood diamond gift

20 May 2010


White has testified that she heard Taylor say he was going to give Campbell diamonds and was present when they were delivered.

Campbell has refused to comment, storming out of one interview when asked about the issue, knocking over a camera on her way out. She told the US chatshow host Oprah Winfrey: "I don't want to get involved in this man's case – he has done some terrible things. I don't want to put my family in danger."

Richard Chichakli

Here's Richard Chichakli's Youtube channel. Videos made in his apartment in Moscow. Here are two example videos:


"Government conspiracy against Chichakli to invent crime by using US banks"

@3:56

If they put my name in that computer, the computer not only gonna play music... It's gonna dance! It's gonna jump around! It's gonna do all kind of things...

"New US Gov. Conspiracy against Richard Chichakli and Viktor Bout using Aircess"


Mr Chichakli said that he didn't want to post here, but maybe he'll change his mind some day? It's up to him. And it's up to you (the reader) to decide whether he's telling the truth or not. I'm not saying that what he says is true or false, by posting it here. But it's interesting, nevertheless, for the topic of this thread.

Israeli And American Indicted For Gun Running

An Israeli and an American has been indicted for gun running to Somalia. They allegedly conspired to transport 2,000 AK-47 from Bosnia to Somalia using Antonov planes.


Israeli, American indicted for gun running to Somalia

June 28, 2010


A federal grand jury in Miami, Florida has indicted an Israeli defense consultant and an American citizen of conspiring to transfer hundreds of AK-47s to northern Somalia.

[---]

Beginning in April, according to the indictment, Miller conspired with his American co-defendant to find an air cargo service to fly hundreds of AK-47s from Bosnia to the northern Somalian city of Banderal, using false end user certificates of Chad, in violation of U.S. arms export control laws. Somalia is under a UN arms embargo. But the transport services source they contacted turned out to be an informant for the U.S. Customs and Immigrations Enforcement (ICE) agency, the indictment describes.

Former Iran-gate figure charged in new Somalia gun running case

June 28, 2010


A retired U.S. Air Force colonel charged in the 1980s in an Iran weapons smuggling case has been indicted in Miami with conspiring with an Israeli aeronautics engineer to illegally export 2,000 AK-47s to Somalia.

[---]

O’Toole, a former Vietnam pilot turned aviation consultant, was charged in 1989 with conspiring with a controversial Israeli self-described former government agent, Ari Ben-Menashe, and a Connecticut resident Richard St. Francis, with trying to sell three U.S. C-130 air cargo planes to Iran. But the charges were dropped in 1991 during the first Gulf War.

[---]

If convicted, O’Toole could face a sentence of 55 years in prison, plus a fine of $1.5 million, and Miller could face 75 years in prison, and a fine of $2 million, the Justice Department said.

Thanks to TYR for bringing this to my attention.

reply to post by Hellmutt


Naomi Campbell testified today and told the court that she did indeed receive "blood diamonds" from Charles Taylor. She gave them to charity.



Naomi Campbell Admits Receiving Uncut Diamonds

Naomi Campbell arrives at The Hague to testify in blood diamond case

Campbell tells war crimes court was given diamonds

Why Naomi Campbell's testimony at The Hague matters

'They gave me some dirty looking pebbles': Naomi Campbell tells war crimes tribunal she received blood diamonds from African dictator

Naomi Campbell


"Naomi Campbell Testifies at Charles Taylor War Crimes Trial"

not sure the naomi thing fits in this old thread, but ok.

Friend gives up Naomi Campbell's 'blood diamonds' day after she testifies


The bag of blood diamonds prosecutors say Naomi Campbell got from ousted Liberian president Charles Taylor have turned up - in the safe of her friend.

Jeremy Ractliffe, who used to run Nelson Mandela's charity, turned over the hot rocks to cops Friday, a day after Campbell testified at Taylor's war crimes trial.

Now Ractliffe is under investigation because possession of uncut diamonds is a crime in South Africa.

reply to post by pryingopen3rdeye



Mia Farrow and Campbells former agent both contradicted Campbells testimony.

The court needed to link the blood diamonds directly to Taylor. Campbell maybe could have been a bit more helpful.

But then, photo oppurtunity. Campbell decides to show the world a pic of her relaxing , oh, looks who with her, isn't that Leo Dicaprio?

The guy who starred in the film 'Blood Diamond'

Is this to be interpreted as 'yea i do blood diamonds , so what' - 2 fingers to you all. Also , what does this say about Dicaprio's credability?

Disturbing.


sorry , edit for source:
www.thesun.co.uk...

[edit on 10-8-2010 by JohnySeagull]

Court grants extradition

BANGKOK - A THAI court Friday ordered the extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the 'Merchant of Death", to the United States on terrorism charges, prompting an angry response from Moscow.

'Merchant of Death' to Be Extradited

Judge Jitakorn Patansiri said the extradition must take place within the next three months.

What Does Viktor Bout Know?

The world’s most notorious arms dealer is coming to America to stand trial. And that has Russia very worried.

Bout_Viktor_and_Chichakli_Richard_S1_Indictment.pdf

U.S. vs. Viktor Bout and Andrew Smulian



[edit on 8/20/10 by makeitso]

reply to post by makeitso


Wow!


'Merchant of Death', Viktor Bout, will finally face justice

Thai TV attacks alleged Russian arms dealer

A big break for US in case of reputed arms dealer

Russian Foreign Ministry summons Thai ambassador over Bout case

Thailand decides to extradite accused Russian arms dealer to U.S.

Thai court orders extradition of Russian arms dealer to U.S.



Desperate and powerful people with lots of resources might try something desperate now, to prevent this from happening...

[edit on 20 Aug 2010 by Hellmutt]

From Douglas Farah's blog:



Viktor Bout to Be Extradited to Stand Trial

Bout should be extradited in about a week, although the Russian government has already made clear it will do what it can to slow the process even further. There is, under Thai law, no further appeal allowed of this ruling

Is it really a big deal that this guy sold guns to groups around the world? The US armed the Taliban to fight the Russians, armed Sadaam Hussein, in fact, the US has armed and put into power many groups and people only to have to fight against the same munitions they had given them. I have a hard time seeing this guy as a "merchant of death" while an alcohol distillery is protected from litigation/prosecution from someone who drives drunk and kills people. The consumer is responsible for what his does with the product, the merchant is not.

Viktor Bout has been transfered to an isolation cell in the "Bangkok Hilton" prison.


Itar-Tass: Bout transferred to solitary cell in Bang Kwan Prison

BANGKOK, August 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russian citizen Viktor Bout was transferred to Thailand’s Bang Kwan Prison and put in a solitary cell, Alla Bout, his wife, told ltar-Tass on Monday. Bang Kwan Prison is the oldest prison in Bangkok that used to be known as Bangkok Hilton.

RIA Novosti: 'Merchant of Death' in Thailand transferred to isolation cell

The United States brought new charges against Bout on Friday just hours before the court made its final decision.

According to the new extradition request, Bout and his former business partner, U.S. citizen Richard Chichakli, are accused of money laundering, telegraph and internet-mediated money transfer fraud, and violating the U.S. president's sanctions against them.

However, Bout's lawyer said that the new charges could prevent the extradition as a new case may have to be opened in Thailand.

Bangkok Post: US proposes striking extra Bout charges

Thailand has been asked to drop money laundering and fraud charges against accused Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to speed up his extradition to the US, a government source says.

The source said Washington, which had asked Thailand to lay the additional charges, contacted the government to withdraw them after the Appeal Court on Friday approved Mr Bout's extradition.

Bout says MP asked him how to take down Thaksin Shinawatra's plane.


Bangkok Post : Bout says MP asked how to take down Thaksin plane

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has confirmed that Sirichoke Sopha, a close aide to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, met him to make inquiries into how ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's plane could be brought down.

[---]

He claimed Mr Sirichoke asked him whether Thaksin had paid to have an aircraft smuggle arms from North Korea to Sri Lanka in December of last year, before the shipment was seized in Thailand.

The plane smuggling arms from North Korea is this plane. However, it seems like that plane may have been bound for Tehran, Iran.


Also: Bangkok Post : Sirichoke admits meeting with Bout