Arms dealer may be extradited
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Thai police dropped charges against a Russian accused of being one of the world’s most prolific black-market arms dealers, saying they would proceed with hearings to extradite him to the United States.
Viktor Bout, 41, faces several U.S. counts for allegedly arranging to sell and transport weapons, including portable surface-to-air missiles, to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Thai police official Phongphan Chayaphan said Bout would remain in detention pending extradition hearings, which he estimated would take 60 days.
Bout could face 15 years in prison on the U.S. charges.
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