In a move worthy of 007, US Drug Enforcement Agency agents provided a bugged cellphone that brought down Russian 'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout, one of the most notorious arms smugglers in the world.
The international sting began with Confidential Source 2 (CS2) and Confidential Source 3 (CS3) posing as Columbian Farc rebel leaders and meeting with Bout in Curacao where the supposedly secure phone was given to Bout.
According to the Sunday Times, after enough incriminating evidence was obtained, the sting proceeded to Bangkok where Bout was to finalize the Farc deal at the Sofitel Hotel. After a tip-off by America's DEA, more than 50 Thai police greeted Bout who is now in prison awaiting extradition to the US.
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