Russian alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout has been extradited from Thailand to the U.S., Russia's consul in Bangkok said on Tuesday.
"Bout was taken from Thailand on board a Gulfstream plane. Presumably to the United States," Andrei Dvornikov said.
Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier gave the green light for Bout's extradition.
Bout's Thai lawyer, Lak Nitivat, said however the extradition was illegal.
"The things that are happening today are absolutely outrageous," the lawyer said earlier, adding that the Thai authorities had not informed him, Bout's wife, or the Russian embassy in Bangkok about the move.
Former Russian army officer Bout was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 during a sting operation led by U.S. agents. The United States accuses Bout of conspiring with others to sell millions of dollars' worth of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), among other illegal arms deals. Bout denies all the charges
Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death" by world media, was the inspiration behind the 2005 Hollywood film "The Lord of War," starring Nicholas Cage.
BANGKOK, November 16 (RIA Novosti)
