After an intense sting operation by the U.S. government in Thailand, the career of internationally known arms smuggler, Viktor Bout, came to a decisive end. What led up to this sensational arrest was the epic life of a man veiled by the obscurity of post-Soviet Russia; a war profiteer, aerial delivery tycoon and international arms dealer with an empire so vast he was dubbed "The Merchant of Death."

In sharp contrast to this cartoon-like super-villain persona is another Bout: a philosophical family man who built his business from the ground up, traveling the world with an old-school camcorder and filming his adventures all along the way. With unprecedented access to his peculiar and salacious moments, the basis of Hollywood's Lord of War comes to life in this richly drawn portrait, the ultimate rags-to-riches-to-prison memoir.

Here's the trailer:

On a related note, pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko is still serving his 20 year sentence for drug trafficking. (At one point he said he was framed because of Viktor Bout.) In September, he filed an appeal of the denial of his motion for new trial. Last year, Russia launched a criminal investigation against 11 DEA agents involved in his sting and capture. It also warned Russian citizens against traveling to countries that have extradition treaties with the U.S.

In 2014, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued an official warning to all citizens who travel abroad, especially to countries that have extradition agreements with the United States. “The US administration makes a routine practice out of hunting for Russian citizens in third countries, with subsequent extradition and conviction in the USA, usually over dubious charges,” the document read.

Here's a long Guardian article on the Yaroshenko bust, which I dubbed "DEA's Most Excellent African Adventures" back in 2009. More here, here and here .

All of our Viktor Bout coverage is accessible here.