(2006-0684-F) Viktor Bout (or Butt) - Arms Dealer

The materials in FOIA 2006-0684-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. In the last years the of the Clinton Administration, several directorates from the National Security Council (which included African Affairs under Gayle Smith) attempted to build a case against Viktor Bout (or Butt), a high profile air cargo supplier and suspected international arms smuggler. The so called ―Merchant of Death‖ made his money, at least initially, selling weapons in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola. Later on, his markets included Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Colombia. According to a recent magazine article, Bout escaped capture for so long because he supplied useful information to among others, the Americans, in exchange for protection. But all of this ended when Bout was apprehended in Bangkok, Thailand in March 2008. His arrest came about as the result of an undercover DEA operation. In a press release the United States government said it planned to extradite Bout from Thailand. However, on August 11, 2009, Thai Court ruled in favor of Viktor Clinton Presidential Library’s web site 2006-0684-F http://www.clintonlibrary.gov 2 Bout, denying the U.S. its request for extradition based on the lack of legal basis and political motivation behind the case. The United States demanded his extradition, which was eventually mandated by the Thai High Court in August 2010. As of January, 2011, Bout is currently incarcerated in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York City. The White House Staff and Office Files contain correspondence, emails, newspaper articles and faxes. Nearly all of this material deals with the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Curbing Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons. Endorsed by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Group sent letters to President Clinton and National Security Advisor Samuel Berger trying to enlist their help, in what amounted to, a truly noble endeavor. Berger referred them to a specialist on the NSC and said he hoped they would meet with success in such a grand gesture. In other words, the records opened here would be of little value to the researcher. FOIA request 2006-0684-F also consists of electronic records in the form of cables and emails. It should be noted that because of sensitivities associated with Bout and arms trafficking the majority of this FOIA request is closed in full. The few documents that are open are notifications of upcoming NSC meetings regarding Viktor Bout and the mention of a New York Times article about the arms smuggler.