Victor Bout's prisoner swap sparks 'arms dealing' fears, Internet says 'he's probably back in the job'
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON: Authorities have raised their concerns regarding swapping Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap that led to the return of WNBA player Brittney Griner to the US. Bout has been infamous for his ties with Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Hezbollah.
According to New York Post, he was arrested in Thailand in 2008. Bout was arrested after Drug Enforcement Administration agents enacted as Colombian rebels. They lured him to discuss a deal to sell up to $20 million in weapons to the FARC narco-terrorist group. The deal also included surface-to-air missiles to shoot down US helicopters. However, in 2011 he was convicted of all charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison the following year.