Thai cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning resolved to extradite an alleged Russian arms trafficker, Victor Bout, to stand trial in the U.S. court.

This file photo taken on March 8, 2008 shows alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout waiting at a detention center at a criminal court in Bangkok. Alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was flown out of Thailand on November 16, 2010 on a special jet to face trial in the United States, bringing to an end months of legal wrangling over his extradition. (Xinhua/AFP)
The 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, dubbed the " Merchant of Death", flown out of Thai capital Bangkok on a 20-seat U.S. jet at around 1.30 p.m., one and a half hour earlier than the original schedule of 3 p.m.

Being escorted by twenty commando police of Crime Suppression Division (CSD) together with some U.S. officials, Bout was taken from Bang Kwang Prison in central Nonthaburi province in a speeding van with darkened windows at around 12.40 p.m. and headed to Don Muang Airport.

CSD commander said six U.S. officials were also on board with Bout in the special jet.

Bout was said to have inspired the Hollywood film "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage. He was arrested at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 in a sting operation orchestrated by the US agents posing as arms buyers of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC) which Washington categorizes as a terrorist organization.

Bout allegedly supplied weapons to some of the world's worst conflicts including Afghanistan, Angola, Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan.

However, Bout has been pleading not guilty to charges of conspiracy to sell arms to Colombian rebels. Besides, he has denied any involvement in illicit activities and said he ran a legitimate business.

The Appeal Court on Aug 20 approved Bout's extradition to the US to stand trial on terrorism-related charges which could land him in prison for life. The extradition must take place within 90 days, or by Nov 20.

But the additional charge of money laundering and wire fraud the U.S. filed against Bout to ensure his detention has ironically delayed the extradition process.

Situation shifted unexpectedly as Criminal Court decided on Oct. 6 to dismiss the second charge, making the extradition of Bout back on track.

In response, Bout's lawyer Lak Nitiwattanawicharn on October 8 filed an appeal against the Criminal Court's decision to drop charges of money laundering and wire fraud against his client in the hope that the charges would be reinstated, allowing Bout to spend longer in Thailand and further delay extradition.


VietNamNet/Xinhuanet