Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian arms dealer dubbed the “Merchant of Death,” made headlines nearly two years ago when he was released from a U.S. prison as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange, per The Wall Street Journal.
Moscow negotiated his freedom in exchange for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, who had been detained in Russia.
Now, having returned to his old networks, Bout is reportedly back in the arms trade, this time attempting to broker deals to supply small arms to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.