Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:03,641 --> 00:00:06,919
On March the 6th
2008, viktor bout,
2
00:00:07,794 --> 00:00:13,072
A former soviet military intelligence officer
And billionaire protected by the russian state
3
00:00:13,081 --> 00:00:14,639
Touched down in bangkok.
4
00:00:15,641 --> 00:00:19,072
He was there to shake hands
on a substantial arms deal.
5
00:00:20,674 --> 00:00:25,879
Yet viktor bout's arrival in thailand marked
The closing stages of operation relentless.
6
00:00:30,434 --> 00:00:32,119
This is the story of one
of the most audacious sting
7
00:00:32,194 --> 00:00:35,479
Operations ever conducted
during the war on terror.
8
00:00:37,081 --> 00:00:40,119
How a team of undercover
operatives pitted their wits
9
00:00:40,194 --> 00:00:44,839
Against a notorious criminal
known as the merchant of death.
10
00:01:15,961 --> 00:01:22,512
In August 1991, a group of communist hardliners
Had staged a coup against soviet president
11
00:01:22,521 --> 00:01:25,152
And general secretary,
mikhail gorbachev.
12
00:01:27,394 --> 00:01:30,839
But a determined group of democrats Had
gathered at the russian parliament.
13
00:01:30,914 --> 00:01:36,759
And boris yeltsin, The new president of the
russian soviet Socialist federal republic,
14
00:01:36,834 --> 00:01:39,472
Was about to have
his finest hour.
15
00:01:41,154 --> 00:01:45,639
This symbolic moment marked the
beginning Of the end of the u.S.S.R.
16
00:01:47,154 --> 00:01:52,759
On December the 25th, mikhail gorbachev
resigned And the soviet union collapsed.
17
00:01:53,801 --> 00:01:58,279
At that moment, the rules of
the geopolitical game changed.
18
00:02:00,834 --> 00:02:02,719
Suddenly, there
was a new russia;
19
00:02:03,561 --> 00:02:07,759
Capitalist and chaotic, a
place where money was made.
20
00:02:09,874 --> 00:02:15,392
Those with an entrepreneurial spirit took
advantage Of the chaos to seize state assets
21
00:02:15,401 --> 00:02:17,399
And sell them off to
the highest bidder.
22
00:02:18,521 --> 00:02:22,079
Many would become
millionaires, many times over.
23
00:02:23,714 --> 00:02:26,359
One of those men
was viktor bout.
24
00:02:27,314 --> 00:02:31,999
And he would become one of the most famous
Or infamous russian businessmen in history.
25
00:02:50,761 --> 00:02:57,552
Western intelligence agencies believe Viktor bout
was born in 1967, and grew up in tajikistan,
26
00:02:57,561 --> 00:02:59,679
A remote part of
the soviet union.
27
00:03:00,521 --> 00:03:04,359
Much else about bout's
early life seems a mystery.
28
00:03:04,434 --> 00:03:07,039
Viktor bout has a very shadowy
29
00:03:07,954 --> 00:03:12,199
Hard to pin down background, It's like
trying to pin jelly to the ceiling.
30
00:03:12,274 --> 00:03:15,079
He had different
passports and different names.
31
00:03:15,154 --> 00:03:17,319
He was very good at
covering his tracks.
32
00:03:17,394 --> 00:03:22,279
He didn't make a huge amount
of noise to the outside world.
33
00:03:23,954 --> 00:03:28,799
Analysts later learned that bout attended The
soviet military institute of foreign languages.
34
00:03:29,794 --> 00:03:33,439
A feeder academy for the country's
Vast intelligence apparatus.
35
00:03:34,441 --> 00:03:36,432
Well, he was very
gifted with languages.
36
00:03:36,441 --> 00:03:42,112
He spoke english, portuguese, russian, Several
of the native african languages as well.
37
00:03:42,121 --> 00:03:44,519
People would talk about
how fluent he was.
38
00:03:44,594 --> 00:03:48,352
One would assume that given his language
skills And the places he was based,
39
00:03:48,361 --> 00:03:51,792
He was involved with the
intelligence services.
40
00:03:54,914 --> 00:04:00,752
In 1987, as a 20 year old Graduate of
the institute, bout was sent to africa,
41
00:04:00,761 --> 00:04:03,079
With a group of soviet
military advisors.
42
00:04:04,521 --> 00:04:09,959
We were not able to track very well what
He actually did in angola and mozambique
43
00:04:10,034 --> 00:04:11,799
And what his role was there.
44
00:04:11,874 --> 00:04:13,919
He calls himself an
intelligence officer.
45
00:04:14,921 --> 00:04:21,239
Then, in 1991, when the old communist System
collapsed, bout found himself without a job.
46
00:04:24,521 --> 00:04:29,712
But as an ex-military intelligence officer
With language skills and kremlin contacts,
47
00:04:29,721 --> 00:04:32,079
He was perfectly placed
to make a killing.
48
00:04:36,441 --> 00:04:38,279
He understood what a market was.
49
00:04:38,354 --> 00:04:43,552
He understood how to access that market and he
understood How to make money from that market.
50
00:04:43,561 --> 00:04:48,839
He was a true visionary in the sense of
coming out Of a system in which capitalism
51
00:04:48,914 --> 00:04:51,792
Had never been rewarded
or was not understood.
52
00:04:51,801 --> 00:04:55,632
With the collapse of the soviet union,
Basically, everything was for sale.
53
00:04:58,201 --> 00:05:04,039
For an undisclosed fee, bout acquired a small
Fleet of soviet military transport aircraft.
54
00:05:05,081 --> 00:05:09,199
Gary busch got to know viktor bout
Flying freight in south africa.
55
00:05:14,194 --> 00:05:17,319
Where on earth do
you think a man of 22,
56
00:05:17,394 --> 00:05:21,079
23 years old is gonna get
enough money to buy an airplane?
57
00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:24,119
He didn't get it because
he had the money to invest.
58
00:05:24,194 --> 00:05:29,279
How got it because the russian
government Gave them to him to use.
59
00:05:30,601 --> 00:05:35,552
Setting up a freight business In the
united arab emirates, bout got rich quick,
60
00:05:35,561 --> 00:05:37,599
Importing western
goods to moscow.
61
00:05:40,281 --> 00:05:46,719
Within a year, analysts estimate he was flying
220 tons of cargo into russia, every day.
62
00:05:47,641 --> 00:05:51,792
But it didn't take him long to
realize Where the real money was.
63
00:05:59,954 --> 00:06:02,679
Viktor bout was the
go-to guy for arms.
64
00:06:02,754 --> 00:06:06,192
He is the guy that would
supply any weapon system
65
00:06:06,201 --> 00:06:11,632
Pretty much within a limited timeframe at
a certain cost And could get it in there.
66
00:06:13,154 --> 00:06:17,712
The russian state had a vast supply
Of kalashnikov assault rifles.
67
00:06:17,721 --> 00:06:21,079
Bout knew how to secure them, And
exactly where he could sell them.
68
00:06:24,194 --> 00:06:24,999
Africa.
69
00:06:28,121 --> 00:06:29,399
Bout had lived in
africa for five years.
70
00:06:30,674 --> 00:06:35,959
As civil wars erupted across the continent
in the 1990s, He cashed in on the chaos.
71
00:06:37,874 --> 00:06:41,232
Bout was very good at the logistics
Of putting this together.
72
00:06:41,241 --> 00:06:43,552
We worked on different
sides of the street,
73
00:06:43,561 --> 00:06:46,519
Viktor worked for the bad guys,
I worked for the good guys.
74
00:06:48,201 --> 00:06:52,519
Viktor was very capable because
he didn't get flustered.
75
00:06:53,954 --> 00:06:56,839
Viktor bout wasn't
supplying just one conflict,
76
00:06:56,914 --> 00:07:00,239
He was importing weapons
to war zones across africa.
77
00:07:01,234 --> 00:07:03,799
His most loyal customers
were former client-states
78
00:07:03,874 --> 00:07:08,279
Of the soviet union; rebels,
warlords and dictators
79
00:07:08,354 --> 00:07:12,039
In sierra leone, the
congo, angola and liberia.
80
00:07:13,801 --> 00:07:15,872
His business model was
really straightforward,
81
00:07:15,881 --> 00:07:19,759
Make as much money as I
can and do it at all costs.
82
00:07:21,234 --> 00:07:23,472
A multi-millionaire
by the age of 30
83
00:07:23,481 --> 00:07:28,399
With a vast aviation empire, Bout's
business expanded at a phenomenal rate.
84
00:07:30,201 --> 00:07:36,879
He employed more than 300 people supplying assault
rifles, Ammunition, land mines and tanks.
85
00:07:38,034 --> 00:07:39,872
Bout's business thrived
because he was prepared
86
00:07:39,881 --> 00:07:42,919
To supply arms to both
sides of the same conflict.
87
00:07:46,514 --> 00:07:51,599
In many situations he was flying weapons
To the government And also to the rebels.
88
00:07:54,761 --> 00:07:57,959
And both sides would know,
but they had no other person
89
00:07:58,034 --> 00:08:00,592
Who could provide the level
of service that he could.
90
00:08:02,194 --> 00:08:06,039
And for clients without ready
cash, He was happy to barter;
91
00:08:06,114 --> 00:08:08,439
Arms in exchange for
local commodities.
92
00:08:10,514 --> 00:08:15,239
And often they'd say to the rebels, for example,
"look, we know you don't have the cash,
93
00:08:15,314 --> 00:08:17,679
"but we don't want the cash,
we want your diamonds."
94
00:08:19,314 --> 00:08:23,559
And they would arrive at the bush airstrip,
Deliver their cargo of weaponry,
95
00:08:23,634 --> 00:08:28,319
The cargo of weaponry would have a certain value
And they'd fly out with a cargo of diamonds.
96
00:08:30,194 --> 00:08:33,839
There is a certain amount of ego
That goes with the job description.
97
00:08:35,001 --> 00:08:38,599
Viktor bout undoubtedly
would've enjoyed the notoriety.
98
00:08:43,474 --> 00:08:48,512
In under five years, Viktor bout had
a devastating impact across africa.
99
00:08:50,914 --> 00:08:56,439
In the congo alone, the brutal civil war
Left an estimated five million people dead.
100
00:08:57,321 --> 00:09:00,279
More than in any other
conflict since world war ii.
101
00:09:03,554 --> 00:09:08,399
His impact was, It was like an
earthquake across the continent.
102
00:09:09,721 --> 00:09:13,792
The costs in human
lives are in the millions.
103
00:09:13,801 --> 00:09:20,272
The supply of kalashnikov's, rpgs, Heavy weapons
systems was fundamental to the conflicts
104
00:09:20,281 --> 00:09:21,919
Lasting as long as they did.
105
00:09:22,841 --> 00:09:26,399
Viktor bout brought vast amounts
Of destruction and devastation.
106
00:09:27,634 --> 00:09:32,599
Visiting the amputee camp in free town,
Interviewing people that had been brutalized,
107
00:09:32,674 --> 00:09:37,159
That had been forced to commit murder,
To even kill their own parents,
108
00:09:37,234 --> 00:09:43,719
Really brought home the horror of the activities
Of people like viktor bout and the deadly trade
109
00:09:43,794 --> 00:09:45,439
That they plied
throughout africa.
110
00:09:48,681 --> 00:09:52,839
Viktor bout ultimately was The most
successful illegal arms trader going.
111
00:09:56,841 --> 00:10:02,439
Secretly, western intelligence agencies Had
been monitoring the supply of illegal weapons
112
00:10:02,514 --> 00:10:04,159
And tracking the
man behind them.
113
00:10:05,074 --> 00:10:09,839
Peter hain was the uk's minister for state In the
foreign and commonwealth office at the time.
114
00:10:11,001 --> 00:10:15,632
Almost daily I was seeing these intelligence
reports About bout and I was saying to myself,
115
00:10:15,641 --> 00:10:17,952
"what are we gonna
do about this?"
116
00:10:17,961 --> 00:10:24,239
The only thing I can do is to use parliamentary
privilege As a minister and name viktor bout.
117
00:10:26,521 --> 00:10:30,679
So, on November the 7th 2000, In a
speech to the house of commons,
118
00:10:30,754 --> 00:10:34,679
Hain conjured up a moniker for bout
That resonated around the world.
119
00:10:36,201 --> 00:10:40,919
Viktor bout is indeed the chief sanctions buster
At the present time, a real merchant of death,
120
00:10:40,994 --> 00:10:42,679
A real merchant of death,
a real merchant of death.
121
00:10:43,641 --> 00:10:49,152
If you can come up with a phrase that perfectly
captures Something you're trying to describe,
122
00:10:49,161 --> 00:10:53,359
Then you can make an
impact The name stuck.
123
00:10:55,954 --> 00:11:01,152
Peter hain's speech was sort of A
fundamental point in people like myself,
124
00:11:01,161 --> 00:11:02,919
Journalists being able
to write about him.
125
00:11:02,994 --> 00:11:07,559
It gave us legal cover to be able to name him,
And it gave us a great little name for him,
126
00:11:07,634 --> 00:11:10,592
The merchant of death
which was very catchy.
127
00:11:10,601 --> 00:11:14,039
And then, all of a sudden, People
in the us intelligence community,
128
00:11:14,114 --> 00:11:19,232
Other intelligence communities started really
fixating On who is this viktor bout guy.
129
00:11:20,994 --> 00:11:25,719
Former soviet military intelligence
operative, Viktor bout was now a major target
130
00:11:25,794 --> 00:11:28,679
Of u.S. And british
intelligence services.
131
00:11:31,161 --> 00:11:35,712
And they would soon discover that his arms
dealing Had spread into new territory.
132
00:11:35,721 --> 00:11:37,799
One that would eventually
be his undoing.
133
00:11:42,194 --> 00:11:45,559
By now, viktor bout's business dealings
Had made him one of the world's most
134
00:11:45,634 --> 00:11:47,479
Notorious weapons suppliers.
135
00:11:49,954 --> 00:11:55,999
Fueling brutal conflicts And
arming african warlords.
136
00:11:57,554 --> 00:11:59,759
And nobody had
tried to stop him.
137
00:12:03,481 --> 00:12:06,519
But bout was about to
acquire another client.
138
00:12:06,594 --> 00:12:11,039
One that would place him firmly in the
crosshairs Of the west's intelligence agencies.
139
00:12:16,681 --> 00:12:23,152
In afghanistan, The bloody conflict between the
mujahideen And the soviet union of the 1980s
140
00:12:23,161 --> 00:12:25,639
Had descended into
a brutal civil war.
141
00:12:27,721 --> 00:12:31,639
Viktor bout had already provided
The afghan government with arms.
142
00:12:31,714 --> 00:12:38,039
And was on the brink of a new deal, For the supply
of three million rounds of ak-47 ammunition.
143
00:12:39,954 --> 00:12:42,192
That was a legitimate
business to be involved in,
144
00:12:42,201 --> 00:12:46,672
He was flying in weaponry to a, you could
argue, A democratic elected government,
145
00:12:46,681 --> 00:12:49,159
And why should he
not be doing so?
146
00:12:51,241 --> 00:12:55,119
But a little-known islamic group Had
risen to prominence in the region.
147
00:12:57,081 --> 00:13:01,632
They were called the taliban, And
they wanted bout's attention.
148
00:13:01,641 --> 00:13:05,632
The taliban forced viktor
bout's aircraft to land on this
149
00:13:05,641 --> 00:13:07,719
Little dirt airstrip in
the middle of nowhere,
150
00:13:07,794 --> 00:13:12,999
Took the crew hostage and took three million
rounds Of ammunition for themselves.
151
00:13:14,434 --> 00:13:19,319
Bout flew to afghanistan in person, To
convince the taliban to release his crew.
152
00:13:21,641 --> 00:13:26,079
He was granted a rare audience
With taliban leader, mullah omar.
153
00:13:28,754 --> 00:13:32,639
The story goes omar had a
price for freeing bout's crew.
154
00:13:34,674 --> 00:13:37,639
He wanted weapons for his war
against the afghan government.
155
00:13:41,961 --> 00:13:45,552
Bout obviously realized,
And perhaps cut a deal,
156
00:13:45,561 --> 00:13:50,832
That there was money to be made from running
weaponry To both sides of the equation.
157
00:13:50,841 --> 00:13:54,432
It was the start
of a lucrative partnership.
158
00:13:54,441 --> 00:13:58,839
In the first few months of 1995,
The taliban took control of much
159
00:13:58,914 --> 00:14:04,039
Of the southern and western regions of afghanistan,
Likely using weapons supplied by bout.
160
00:14:05,961 --> 00:14:08,752
At the time, it went
almost unnoticed.
161
00:14:08,761 --> 00:14:12,512
But in 2005, the u.S. Treasury
would reveal that bout
162
00:14:12,521 --> 00:14:16,839
Had made around $50 million
from his deals with the taliban.
163
00:14:16,914 --> 00:14:20,199
Radical islam is not really
on Anybody's radar screen.
164
00:14:20,274 --> 00:14:23,599
It was viewed I think generally
As just massive chaos out there.
165
00:14:24,841 --> 00:14:26,839
Then, everything changed.
166
00:14:32,121 --> 00:14:36,279
After 9/11 of course the
u.S. Government recognized
167
00:14:36,354 --> 00:14:39,479
This unbelievable convergence
of crime and terror.
168
00:14:40,441 --> 00:14:44,119
Our war or
terror begins with al qaeda.
169
00:14:44,194 --> 00:14:51,279
U.S. President george w. Bush, Named osama bin
laden, leader of al qaeda, Public enemy number one.
170
00:14:52,834 --> 00:14:58,199
On September the 20th 2001, The u.S.
Launched its war on terror.
171
00:14:59,554 --> 00:15:04,719
Every nation, in every region,
Now has a decision to make.
172
00:15:05,641 --> 00:15:10,279
Either you are with us, or
you are with the terrorists.
173
00:15:18,114 --> 00:15:19,872
Within a month
of the terrorist attacks
174
00:15:19,881 --> 00:15:23,679
On the twin towers, the united
states invaded afghanistan.
175
00:15:24,841 --> 00:15:27,792
And it wasn't just the
taliban the u.S. Was hunting.
176
00:15:27,801 --> 00:15:32,879
They also vowed to bring those responsible For
arming radical islamic groups to justice.
177
00:15:34,674 --> 00:15:40,679
That kind of put bout in the spotlight, Because
the u.S. Government was so focused on al qaeda
178
00:15:40,754 --> 00:15:44,832
And the taliban and actually going
after These people in afghanistan,
179
00:15:44,841 --> 00:15:47,719
And it was pretty apparent
that viktor bout played a role.
180
00:15:49,001 --> 00:15:53,952
On February the 18th 2002, A red
notice was issued for bout;
181
00:15:53,961 --> 00:15:57,759
A global arrest warrant, For weapons
trafficking and money laundering.
182
00:15:59,561 --> 00:16:03,952
I think that when interpol red notice
comes out, Then it's like uh oh,
183
00:16:03,961 --> 00:16:06,192
I could actually you
know, get arrested.
184
00:16:06,201 --> 00:16:09,839
But by now, viktor bout
Had retreated to russia.
185
00:16:12,034 --> 00:16:15,799
Former intelligence officer,
vladimir putin was president.
186
00:16:15,874 --> 00:16:19,799
And putin prided himself on his loyalty
To former intelligence comrades.
187
00:16:19,874 --> 00:16:21,799
He offered bout safe haven.
188
00:16:23,161 --> 00:16:27,399
The russian state was saying That they
didn't know where viktor bout was,
189
00:16:27,474 --> 00:16:31,632
So that showed the level of complicity the russians
Had decided to take or the level of defense
190
00:16:31,641 --> 00:16:33,479
They had decided
to put over him.
191
00:16:33,554 --> 00:16:37,399
From the safety of moscow, Bout
surprised everyone by embarking
192
00:16:37,474 --> 00:16:39,639
On a pr offensive
to clear his name.
193
00:16:42,114 --> 00:16:47,399
And he took the pragmatic decision, That
he had nothing to lose by going public
194
00:16:47,474 --> 00:16:50,999
And trying to win the
public relations battle.
195
00:16:53,874 --> 00:17:00,199
He went out to clear his name, and to try
to say, Look, I'm just a supplier of goods
196
00:17:00,274 --> 00:17:02,679
To people who have a need,
that was his argument.
197
00:17:03,874 --> 00:17:06,999
But in may
2004, came a tipping point.
198
00:17:09,961 --> 00:17:12,039
In the initial chaos following
the u.S. Led coalition's
199
00:17:12,114 --> 00:17:17,552
Invasion of iraq to overthrow saddam hussein,
The pentagon used whatever freight companies
200
00:17:17,561 --> 00:17:21,712
Were on the ground, to deliver military
supplies To their frontline troops.
201
00:17:24,514 --> 00:17:28,399
One of those companies could
be traced back to viktor bout.
202
00:17:30,274 --> 00:17:34,599
Bout seemed to have pulled off the ultimate
dodge, To move from hunted international
203
00:17:34,674 --> 00:17:39,839
Arms dealer to armaments Delivery man
for the u.S. Department of defense.
204
00:17:41,481 --> 00:17:45,719
The world's most wanted arms dealer,
Who was being hunted by interpol,
205
00:17:45,794 --> 00:17:49,399
Flying in supplies to some
of the most top secret
206
00:17:49,474 --> 00:17:53,199
And secure air bases we had
in any war zone of anywhere.
207
00:17:56,121 --> 00:18:02,519
Later, investigators would reveal that bout Had
made an estimated $60 million from the pentagon,
208
00:18:02,594 --> 00:18:05,519
On top of the 50 million he'd
made from arming the taliban.
209
00:18:07,394 --> 00:18:10,592
The u.S. Government's embarrassment
Made them all the more
210
00:18:10,601 --> 00:18:12,799
Determined to bring the
merchant of death to justice.
211
00:18:14,274 --> 00:18:19,039
And in the summer of 2007, They turned
to the drug enforcement agency for help.
212
00:18:20,681 --> 00:18:25,119
Derek maltz was director of the dea's
Special operations division at the time.
213
00:18:26,994 --> 00:18:30,752
We had a international
bilateral investigative team
214
00:18:30,761 --> 00:18:36,752
At the special operations division that enabled
us To go after the biggest and baddest threats
215
00:18:36,761 --> 00:18:40,519
To bring them into america
to face the rule of law.
216
00:18:40,594 --> 00:18:45,072
And we were asked by the white
house, To go after viktor bout.
217
00:18:45,081 --> 00:18:47,119
We obviously took
it as a challenge.
218
00:18:48,434 --> 00:18:54,672
They needed a means to lure viktor bout
Out of moscow and away from russia,
219
00:18:54,681 --> 00:18:59,639
Away from where he was safe, To somewhere
that he could be hunted down and arrested.
220
00:19:01,714 --> 00:19:04,432
The dea knew only
one thing would tempt bout
221
00:19:04,441 --> 00:19:08,992
To leave the safety of
moscow; a lucrative arms deal.
222
00:19:09,001 --> 00:19:14,399
So they devised a top secret undercover
sting, Code-named operation relentless.
223
00:19:16,754 --> 00:19:24,272
The sting idea put together by the dea, Was that
the team should pose as if they were guerrillas,
224
00:19:24,281 --> 00:19:27,632
Fighters for the farc, terrorist
organization in columbia.
225
00:19:27,641 --> 00:19:31,319
And the reason they chose the farc, Was
because it was known, at the time,
226
00:19:31,394 --> 00:19:37,879
That the farc were actually seeking to buy
Any number of surface - To-air missiles.
227
00:19:37,954 --> 00:19:43,719
The farc was a guerrilla army using money From
drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion
228
00:19:43,794 --> 00:19:46,359
To fund their war on the
colombian government.
229
00:19:48,514 --> 00:19:51,552
Under u.S. Law, the unauthorized
sale of surface-to-air
230
00:19:51,561 --> 00:19:55,199
Missiles carried an
automatic 25 year jail term.
231
00:19:57,474 --> 00:20:03,159
The aim of operation relentless was to
record bout Offering to supply them.
232
00:20:05,801 --> 00:20:12,432
To run the operation against bout, Derek maltz
chose one of the dea's leading case agents,
233
00:20:12,441 --> 00:20:17,479
An ex-marine with two decades Of
undercover experience, wim brown.
234
00:20:20,034 --> 00:20:23,152
He was a very articulate
and smart individual.
235
00:20:23,161 --> 00:20:26,759
Very calculating, and you
could see why he was very good
236
00:20:26,834 --> 00:20:29,079
At what he did, 'cause
he's a people's person.
237
00:20:29,961 --> 00:20:35,559
Brown realized he would only get close to bout
Through a complex chain of sources and informants.
238
00:20:37,401 --> 00:20:39,632
We did our research,
we looked through our
239
00:20:39,641 --> 00:20:44,519
Dea intelligence systems to see if there was
any reference To viktor bout, and there was.
240
00:20:44,594 --> 00:20:48,679
And we noted that the case
agent there had an individual
241
00:20:48,754 --> 00:20:51,639
That had provided information
specifically about viktor.
242
00:20:54,361 --> 00:20:59,159
Brown contacted this individual, A confidential
source, who passed on the name of a man
243
00:20:59,234 --> 00:21:01,559
Who became the first
crucial link in the chain.
244
00:21:04,281 --> 00:21:08,999
A man named mike snow, who's
image cannot be revealed.
245
00:21:10,281 --> 00:21:16,592
Mike snow was a bush pilot back in the
day, He was a former sas guy I believe
246
00:21:16,601 --> 00:21:24,159
With the british military, Very sharp witted,
told it like it is And told it like it was.
247
00:21:25,394 --> 00:21:30,912
Crucially the dea learned that mike snow Met
viktor bout in south africa in the '90s,
248
00:21:30,921 --> 00:21:33,639
And the two had remained
in contact ever since.
249
00:21:34,681 --> 00:21:41,159
Mike snow spoke to viktor bout in
a very blunt And unafraid tone.
250
00:21:41,234 --> 00:21:45,799
And bout being a russian, and being from the
background He's from, rather respected that.
251
00:21:45,874 --> 00:21:48,519
So, they kind of had a mutual
respect for each other.
252
00:21:49,721 --> 00:21:55,312
Realizing the importance of recruiting
snow As an informant, in September 2007,
253
00:21:55,321 --> 00:21:58,359
Wim brown approached him,
in a neutral location.
254
00:22:04,521 --> 00:22:07,872
We said "mike, you know, if you're not
interested "in helping we totally understand,"
255
00:22:07,881 --> 00:22:13,472
And then the next morning we met again and mike
said "I already made a phone call and boris,"
256
00:22:13,481 --> 00:22:17,719
Which was the nickname for viktor,
"was still involved in the game."
257
00:22:17,794 --> 00:22:21,279
So, he showed a complete
interest in doing this.
258
00:22:22,681 --> 00:22:25,879
He'd seen what weapons have
done throughout africa.
259
00:22:25,954 --> 00:22:29,719
He knew that viktor had moved
weapons in and out of africa
260
00:22:29,794 --> 00:22:33,999
And I think he felt a need
and responsibility to help.
261
00:22:35,561 --> 00:22:37,319
But this was only the beginning.
262
00:22:37,394 --> 00:22:41,152
They still faced their most
difficult challenge yet.
263
00:22:41,161 --> 00:22:45,399
How to lure viktor bout away From
the protection of the kremlin.
264
00:22:48,354 --> 00:22:54,679
By now, dea investigators were one month Into an
elaborate sting operation To catch notorious arms
265
00:22:54,754 --> 00:22:59,279
Dealer and former russian military
Intelligence operative, viktor bout.
266
00:23:04,594 --> 00:23:10,039
Before they could set the op in motion, They had
to get close to someone in bout's inner circle.
267
00:23:11,794 --> 00:23:15,632
The dea's informant,
ex-sas pilot, mike snow,
268
00:23:15,641 --> 00:23:18,599
Put forward the name of someone
who was very close to bout.
269
00:23:20,841 --> 00:23:25,319
If there was one person in the world, Kind of
outside of russia and moscow, that bout trusted,
270
00:23:25,394 --> 00:23:27,559
Who wasn't a russian,
it was andrew smulian.
271
00:23:28,521 --> 00:23:34,512
A british citizen raised in south africa, Andrew
smulian helped to run bout's vast illegal arms
272
00:23:34,521 --> 00:23:37,079
Business in africa in the 1990s.
273
00:23:38,841 --> 00:23:44,832
Bout regarded smulian as a
mentor, Swahili for grandfather.
274
00:23:44,841 --> 00:23:50,352
When viktor bout was running his airlines Out
of south africa flying everything and anything
275
00:23:50,361 --> 00:23:55,792
All over africa to all different conflict zones,
Andrew smulian was his second in command,
276
00:23:55,801 --> 00:23:57,392
Running the business.
277
00:23:57,401 --> 00:24:02,512
But smulian was now broke, Which
made him desperate and vulnerable.
278
00:24:04,274 --> 00:24:11,199
So in November 2007, snow made contact with
smulian, Telling him there was a deal to be had.
279
00:24:12,274 --> 00:24:17,199
Smulian took the bait and agreed to meet
snow And his associates, face to face.
280
00:24:19,161 --> 00:24:21,632
Now the dea had to move fast.
281
00:24:21,641 --> 00:24:24,992
They realized they would
have To put together a team,
282
00:24:25,001 --> 00:24:29,999
With the credentials to make
bout believe that they were
283
00:24:30,834 --> 00:24:34,519
Working in that dark shadowy
world in which he operated.
284
00:24:36,034 --> 00:24:38,679
You know, you use a
thief to catch a thief.
285
00:24:38,754 --> 00:24:43,152
The dea, very pragmatically, Had
taken any number of individuals
286
00:24:43,161 --> 00:24:46,919
Who had been former drugs dealers, Or
arms dealers and cut deals with them.
287
00:24:48,674 --> 00:24:50,992
You may call them
spies or whatever.
288
00:24:51,001 --> 00:24:53,792
We use them to go in and
infiltrate into organizations.
289
00:24:53,801 --> 00:24:56,599
They could do things
that agents can't do.
290
00:24:56,674 --> 00:24:58,599
We can put 'em in to
high risk situations.
291
00:24:58,674 --> 00:24:59,839
It's their choice.
292
00:25:00,754 --> 00:25:03,079
Brown pinpointed
the perfect undercover
293
00:25:03,154 --> 00:25:06,159
Operative to play the role of
a weapons buyer for the farc.
294
00:25:08,121 --> 00:25:11,472
A man the dea codenamed carlos.
295
00:25:11,481 --> 00:25:17,079
Carlos became known as the king of sting,
The go-to guy if you wanted someone to walk
296
00:25:17,154 --> 00:25:21,399
Into the fire posing as an arms dealer,
Or drugs dealer, or a terrorist,
297
00:25:21,474 --> 00:25:24,479
And convince the bad guy that
he was actually for real.
298
00:25:25,961 --> 00:25:28,119
Carlos had served
in guatemalan military
299
00:25:28,194 --> 00:25:31,439
Intelligence before becoming
embroiled in drug trafficking.
300
00:25:33,721 --> 00:25:35,719
But he decided to switch sides.
301
00:25:37,954 --> 00:25:42,119
He went to dea in guatemala and just said,
"listen, this is what I've been involved in
302
00:25:42,194 --> 00:25:43,872
"and I wanna get out of it."
303
00:25:43,881 --> 00:25:49,632
We created a relationship over the years,
And phenomenal hard worker who really
304
00:25:49,641 --> 00:25:51,679
Did it for the right reasons.
305
00:25:56,194 --> 00:26:03,319
In January 2008, carlos was sent by the dea To
meet with andrew smulian for the first time,
306
00:26:03,394 --> 00:26:09,072
At a restaurant on the island of
curacao, Off the venezuelan coast.
307
00:26:09,081 --> 00:26:12,672
It was to introduce carlos To
andrew smulian to sell this,
308
00:26:12,681 --> 00:26:15,712
To say, "look it, these
guys are for real."
309
00:26:15,721 --> 00:26:21,959
Carlos agreed to be interviewed For this
documentary, but his identity remains protected,
310
00:26:22,034 --> 00:26:24,479
So you will hear his voice,
but not see his face.
311
00:26:44,761 --> 00:26:49,712
Carlos' mission was to persuade andrew
smulian To arrange a face to face meeting
312
00:26:49,721 --> 00:26:52,439
With viktor bout himself,
outside of russia.
313
00:27:32,034 --> 00:27:37,799
Andrew got on the phone immediately To viktor
bout, that he had something very important
314
00:27:37,874 --> 00:27:40,559
To tell him and that
this was a great deal.
315
00:27:42,201 --> 00:27:46,239
For 11 days, carlos and the dea
Heard nothing back from bout.
316
00:27:47,161 --> 00:27:49,879
Then, smulian made contact.
317
00:27:49,954 --> 00:27:53,759
He confirmed that bout would agree To
a face to face meeting with carlos.
318
00:27:55,881 --> 00:28:00,992
The two sides arranged to meet in
romania, A former soviet bloc state,
319
00:28:01,001 --> 00:28:03,519
Where the dea believed
bout would feel safe.
320
00:28:07,474 --> 00:28:12,272
What he didn't know was that romania
Was the perfect place for the dea
321
00:28:12,281 --> 00:28:14,159
To conduct an undercover sting.
322
00:28:19,241 --> 00:28:24,839
We thought that we can get viktor bout To come
into romania that would solve all our problems.
323
00:28:24,914 --> 00:28:28,592
Their extradition process
was very efficient and short.
324
00:28:28,601 --> 00:28:30,992
And if we were able to
arrest viktor in romania,
325
00:28:31,001 --> 00:28:35,119
We knew that the process was
a maximum of roughly 45 days.
326
00:28:36,434 --> 00:28:41,799
The operation relentless team Flew to
bucharest, set up a surveillance station,
327
00:28:41,874 --> 00:28:43,679
And waited for
viktor bout's arrival
328
00:28:45,321 --> 00:28:48,199
But almost immediately,
a problem emerged.
329
00:28:49,641 --> 00:28:54,119
Viktor said there's a
problem for me to go to romania.
330
00:28:54,194 --> 00:28:56,919
Russian citizens
need a visa to enter romania
331
00:28:57,954 --> 00:29:00,519
And bout had an interpol
arrest warrant to his name.
332
00:29:02,601 --> 00:29:06,592
Days were going past where viktor was
trying To get his visa to come in.
333
00:29:06,601 --> 00:29:11,399
Viktor was on the phone with andrew
discussing His problems about getting a visa,
334
00:29:11,474 --> 00:29:17,952
And for us that was our tipping point to say,
It's possible that this case is going down.
335
00:29:17,961 --> 00:29:22,519
Carlos knew at this point, A genuine
illegal arms buyer would play hard ball.
336
00:29:23,954 --> 00:29:27,479
So he pretended to run out of
patience, and pulled the plug.
337
00:29:41,801 --> 00:29:45,559
So, we had to regroup and say,
"okay we're pulling outta romania,
338
00:29:45,634 --> 00:29:48,112
"we're gonna pull
outta this deal."
339
00:29:48,121 --> 00:29:52,752
Now, they'd have to sit and wait To see
if bout would try to resurrect the deal.
340
00:30:02,274 --> 00:30:07,479
Just six days later, Bout sent an email
directly to carlos's undercover account.
341
00:30:09,314 --> 00:30:12,199
When we got the email, to
me it was like a home run,
342
00:30:12,274 --> 00:30:17,552
It was like this is insane that viktor bout
actually Sent an email back to the source.
343
00:30:17,561 --> 00:30:21,159
The agents were like, "I can't
believe that this guy actually used
344
00:30:21,234 --> 00:30:25,152
"his real name to open
up a g-mail account."
345
00:30:25,161 --> 00:30:27,319
I think he believed
that he was untouchable.
346
00:30:28,754 --> 00:30:33,159
Soon after, viktor bout called
carlos To set up another meeting,
347
00:30:33,234 --> 00:30:37,039
In a location that didn't
require a visa; bangkok.
348
00:30:38,754 --> 00:30:42,519
This is a recording of that conversation,
In spanish, taped by carlos.
349
00:31:06,594 --> 00:31:10,439
The meeting was to be in a bangkok
hotel, In just a few days time.
350
00:31:12,594 --> 00:31:16,112
The dea went over the thailand,
And my agents went over there,
351
00:31:16,121 --> 00:31:20,279
They formed an unbelievable powerful team
With the guys on the ground and made sure
352
00:31:20,354 --> 00:31:22,919
That the thai police
had all the information.
353
00:31:27,161 --> 00:31:30,592
Bout, it seemed, Was looking
forward to leaving moscow.
354
00:31:30,601 --> 00:31:34,199
He had been sanctioned and he had been
sitting In mother russia for a long time
355
00:31:34,274 --> 00:31:36,439
And he wanted to get
out and play I think.
356
00:31:40,114 --> 00:31:45,712
Shortly after 10:00 a.M. On March the 6th, The
world's most notorious arms dealer touched down
357
00:31:45,721 --> 00:31:47,479
At bangkok
international airport.
358
00:31:48,761 --> 00:31:51,399
He was being watched from
the moment he landed.
359
00:31:51,474 --> 00:31:54,759
They had to do very
covert type of surveillance.
360
00:31:54,834 --> 00:31:58,592
They had somebody in a toll booth, They
had another guy on the side of the road
361
00:31:58,601 --> 00:32:01,079
Making like his car
was like broken down.
362
00:32:01,154 --> 00:32:03,999
We were so close, we didn't
want viktor bout to get away.
363
00:32:05,234 --> 00:32:09,039
Bout headed to the hotel where carlos
And his dea team were waiting.
364
00:32:22,114 --> 00:32:26,432
The dea had stationed personnel Throughout
the hotel, and converted a room
365
00:32:26,441 --> 00:32:28,919
On the 20th floor
into a command center.
366
00:32:30,594 --> 00:32:33,399
The thai police placed
an armed unit on standby.
367
00:32:35,161 --> 00:32:39,439
We had carlos in place, I said okay
it's game time, Let's make it happen.
368
00:32:46,514 --> 00:32:50,839
At just after 11:30, Viktor bout
walked into the hotel lobby.
369
00:32:52,914 --> 00:32:56,639
He believed he was about to shake
hands On a massive arms deal.
370
00:32:58,354 --> 00:33:01,152
This was it.
371
00:33:01,161 --> 00:33:05,719
It was make or break time for one of the
biggest Stings in the dea's history.
372
00:33:13,001 --> 00:33:17,152
To build a watertight case against
Notorious arms dealer viktor bout,
373
00:33:17,161 --> 00:33:21,159
Dea undercover operative
carlos, had a clear objective.
374
00:33:22,041 --> 00:33:27,479
To record, via the wire he was wearing, Evidence
which could be placed before a us court.
375
00:33:59,961 --> 00:34:05,799
He was very proud in the hotel room to mention
how The u.S. Is an enemy of his as well,
376
00:34:05,874 --> 00:34:12,359
So he was very happy to know that these weapons
Were gonna take out helicopters of u.S. Pilots.
377
00:34:12,434 --> 00:34:16,999
Bout was recorded offering to supply
Carlos with a staggering array of weapons.
378
00:34:18,521 --> 00:34:27,279
We're talking about 5,000 ak-47s, We're talking
about russian like gun and rifle parts,
379
00:34:27,554 --> 00:34:31,079
We're talking about unmanned aircraft,
We're talking about manpads,
380
00:34:31,154 --> 00:34:34,112
We're talking about three
million rounds of ammunition.
381
00:34:34,121 --> 00:34:35,399
This was a big deal.
382
00:34:35,474 --> 00:34:37,559
$20 million, 15, $20 million.
383
00:34:55,474 --> 00:34:59,079
But carlos needed bout To
offer something specific.
384
00:34:59,154 --> 00:35:04,279
One of the list of armaments strictly prohibited
From international trading or exchange.
385
00:35:04,354 --> 00:35:11,072
The sale of surface-to-air missiles Is a 25
year minimum Mandatory sentence all in its own.
386
00:35:11,081 --> 00:35:16,352
So, it was important for viktor to say
I'm providing surface - To-air missiles.
387
00:35:16,361 --> 00:35:21,159
At the meeting, bout claimed he
could Supply around 700 missiles,
388
00:35:21,234 --> 00:35:24,839
At a cost in excess
of $120,000, each.
389
00:35:27,154 --> 00:35:29,472
15 to $20 million to start off.
390
00:35:29,481 --> 00:35:33,559
Bout even boasted to carlos Of his
close links to the russian government.
391
00:35:43,641 --> 00:35:47,159
He talked about getting ministers
To sign off on paperwork.
392
00:35:47,234 --> 00:35:50,439
What does a minister have to
do with signing paperwork?
393
00:35:50,514 --> 00:35:55,479
Recorded through his wire, Carlos now
had all the evidence the dea needed.
394
00:35:56,354 --> 00:35:58,039
It was time to take bout down.
395
00:35:59,634 --> 00:36:05,072
But when carlos gave the pre-agreed signal To
the listening agents to move in, a phone call,
396
00:36:05,081 --> 00:36:07,239
There was immediately a problem.
397
00:36:07,314 --> 00:36:11,639
We knew that they went up to reserve
conference room On the 27th floor.
398
00:36:11,714 --> 00:36:13,712
We just had no idea
what room it was.
399
00:36:13,721 --> 00:36:16,679
So it was a moment of
like, where are these guys?
400
00:36:16,754 --> 00:36:19,632
Do we have the right floor,
are we in the right area?
401
00:36:28,754 --> 00:36:30,439
Carlos played for time.
402
00:36:47,234 --> 00:36:48,679
Everybody was concerned.
403
00:36:48,754 --> 00:36:50,992
Did we lose this, had
they changed their mind,
404
00:36:51,001 --> 00:36:53,232
Are we up too late, are we
there too late or whatever?
405
00:36:55,401 --> 00:36:58,592
That's it, let's go.
406
00:36:58,601 --> 00:36:59,599
Hands up, hands up!
407
00:37:28,194 --> 00:37:33,759
So convinced was bout that the weapons deal Was
genuine, He hadn't even bothered to arm himself.
408
00:37:34,994 --> 00:37:37,519
Bout was taken into
custody by the thai police.
409
00:37:39,881 --> 00:37:43,392
After almost two decades of
global weapons trafficking,
410
00:37:43,401 --> 00:37:46,759
The man known as the merchant
of death came face to face
411
00:37:46,834 --> 00:37:50,079
With the dea team dedicated
to bringing him to justice.
412
00:37:51,161 --> 00:37:56,279
The agents and myself said okay, Viktor
just so you're aware the individuals
413
00:37:56,354 --> 00:37:59,879
That you've been meeting with, That andrew's
been meeting with over the last three months
414
00:37:59,954 --> 00:38:02,599
Are all sources
that work for dea.
415
00:38:02,674 --> 00:38:04,119
All of it's been recorded.
416
00:38:05,161 --> 00:38:09,632
And viktor looked matter of fact and he
said, "I guess you hold all the cards."
417
00:38:09,641 --> 00:38:13,919
And it was a moment of okay,
viktor knew that he was done.
418
00:38:15,401 --> 00:38:18,352
Now the dea
had one final challenge.
419
00:38:18,361 --> 00:38:21,479
Getting bout back to the
united states to face charges.
420
00:38:28,441 --> 00:38:32,992
And that's when viktor bout's powerful
friends In the kremlin stepped in.
421
00:38:33,001 --> 00:38:37,239
And the one-time intelligence agent
Became a pawn in a bigger battle.
422
00:38:39,481 --> 00:38:44,512
It was like a power struggle Going on between
the thais, The russians, the united states.
423
00:38:44,521 --> 00:38:47,239
And, of course, it
became very political.
424
00:38:47,314 --> 00:38:50,439
It was outrageous that they
were Blocking his extradition
425
00:38:50,514 --> 00:38:58,519
When it was absolutely clear cut that this guy
Was a murderous applier and trader in blood.
426
00:39:02,201 --> 00:39:08,039
I guess their biggest fear is viktor
bout Potentially cooperating in america.
427
00:39:08,114 --> 00:39:11,039
What could this guy disclose
to save his own butt?
428
00:39:11,881 --> 00:39:16,039
Sources told the dea of bout's
Clandestine meetings in the prison,
429
00:39:16,114 --> 00:39:17,999
With undisclosed
russian officials.
430
00:39:20,114 --> 00:39:25,712
This was clearly not the consulate visit, This
was much higher and this was at I believe
431
00:39:25,721 --> 00:39:28,752
At high levels within
the russian government.
432
00:39:28,761 --> 00:39:32,199
And I think they were doing
everything in their mind,
433
00:39:32,274 --> 00:39:34,919
To protect him but also
to protect themselves.
434
00:39:35,801 --> 00:39:41,399
For more than two years, Russian and american
authorities fought over bout's fate.
435
00:39:41,474 --> 00:39:44,199
All the while, viktor
bout revealed nothing.
436
00:39:46,114 --> 00:39:48,919
We tried to get viktor
to cooperate at the time.
437
00:39:48,994 --> 00:39:54,839
It was more entrenched in him not to
cooperate, Especially with the united states
438
00:39:54,914 --> 00:39:57,079
Because of the cold war
for all those years.
439
00:39:58,361 --> 00:40:03,599
Finally, in 2010, the thai authorities
Agreed to bout's extradition to the u. S..
440
00:40:05,234 --> 00:40:09,999
On November the 15th, A team of
dea agents arrived in bangkok.
441
00:40:11,161 --> 00:40:16,119
The following day, so concerned there could
Be interference from russian interests,
442
00:40:16,194 --> 00:40:19,999
The dea gave him bulletproof clothing
To wear on his way to the airport.
443
00:40:21,074 --> 00:40:24,192
We got viktor
successfully onto the plane.
444
00:40:24,201 --> 00:40:26,912
And I remember viktor sitting
in there in the corner,
445
00:40:26,921 --> 00:40:30,399
And he had earphones on,
and listening to music.
446
00:40:34,114 --> 00:40:38,672
You got the guy out of thailand, You
fought through this extradition process,
447
00:40:38,681 --> 00:40:43,439
You got him on the plane, now he's on the turf
Of the united states, that was a great feeling.
448
00:40:47,241 --> 00:40:54,199
In court in new york, Bout faced four terrorism
offenses, Including conspiring to kill americans
449
00:40:54,274 --> 00:40:56,879
And conspiring to sell
surface-to-air missiles.
450
00:41:00,034 --> 00:41:03,239
His old friend and business
associate andrew smulian
451
00:41:03,314 --> 00:41:06,432
Testified against him, in
exchange for a lighter sentence,
452
00:41:06,441 --> 00:41:09,239
And the hope of a place on a
witness protection program.
453
00:41:12,194 --> 00:41:14,559
Throughout, bout
remained silent.
454
00:41:17,154 --> 00:41:21,959
He didn't say a word in his defense at
trial, He didn't call a single witness.
455
00:41:22,034 --> 00:41:24,519
And you have to
ask yourself, why?
456
00:41:24,594 --> 00:41:27,952
That would have risked
revealing some of the secrets
457
00:41:27,961 --> 00:41:32,832
Of the russian state, which
viktor bout and his compatriots
458
00:41:32,841 --> 00:41:36,439
Knew that they were not
at liberty to reveal.
459
00:41:36,514 --> 00:41:42,519
Because if you do that, if you do step out
of line, As far as moscow's concerned,
460
00:41:42,594 --> 00:41:45,199
You have no route
back to russia ever.
461
00:41:46,274 --> 00:41:52,919
On April the 5th 2012, Viktor bout
was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
462
00:41:52,994 --> 00:41:56,999
Guilty of the illegal supply of arms
To enemies of the united states.
463
00:41:58,441 --> 00:42:00,992
It was the final act in one
of the most successful sting
464
00:42:01,001 --> 00:42:04,359
Operations in recent american
intelligence history.
465
00:42:06,434 --> 00:42:12,039
The dea and our counterparts around the
world Were successful in taking him off
466
00:42:12,114 --> 00:42:14,759
The playing field and
putting him in a can.
467
00:42:14,834 --> 00:42:19,319
I had seen some of the destruction that was
involved With the weapons that he provided.
468
00:42:19,394 --> 00:42:24,279
So, for me it was a great satisfaction To
know that a guy like that was behind bars.
469
00:42:24,354 --> 00:42:29,799
This was a man, the merchant of death,
Who needed to be put behind bars
470
00:42:29,874 --> 00:42:33,799
And needed to be made an
example of for others.
471
00:42:35,321 --> 00:42:41,072
Today, viktor bout resides In the united
states penitentiary In marion, illinois.
472
00:42:41,081 --> 00:42:45,152
He is not eligible for
release until January 2030,
473
00:42:45,161 --> 00:42:50,319
And is yet to reveal anything to the american
authorities About his kremlin backers.
474
00:42:51,394 --> 00:43:00,119
Like a classic russian intelligence agent, Like a
classic spy, viktor bout went to his jail cell
475
00:43:02,121 --> 00:43:04,479
Defiantly and in silence.
476
00:43:08,114 --> 00:43:13,232
The russian foreign ministry vowed it will make
All necessary efforts to return viktor bout
477
00:43:13,241 --> 00:43:17,159
To the motherland, at the
first available opportunity.
478
00:43:17,209 --> 00:43:21,759
Repair and Synchronization by
Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0
48743
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.