In an unexpected development, Viktor Bout, the infamous Russian arms dealer once dubbed the “Merchant of Death” by the United States, is reportedly looking to dive back into his former trade. Having been released from U.S. prison two years ago as part of a prisoner swap, Bout is now said to be negotiating the sale of small arms, including AK-74 assault rifles, to Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is supported by Iran. These arms are allegedly set to be concealed as food shipments destined for the port of Hodeida as early as this month.

According to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, a European official and other knowledgeable sources have indicated that Houthi representatives traveled to Moscow in August to broker a deal involving automatic weapons valued at an impressive $10 million. It was during these negotiations that they encountered Bout, who remains an unmistakable figure with his distinctive full beard.

At 57, Bout had previously been sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. court for arms trafficking, serving a decade behind bars before his release in December 2022 as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner. Throughout his career, he has been linked to the illicit trafficking of Soviet-made weapons across Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

While these potential arms deals are still in the works, reports suggest that the weaponry being offered does not include advanced anti-ship or air defense missiles that Russia had previously provided to the Houthis. Such advanced systems could represent a serious threat to U.S. military operations aimed at safeguarding international shipping routes.

Sources close to the negotiations have revealed that Bout’s role involves facilitating small arms transactions with two Houthi representatives. These individuals purportedly used the guise of purchasing pesticides and vehicles while touring Moscow, even visiting a Lada car factory.

The first shipments of arms are expected to focus primarily on AK-74 rifles, a step up from the well-known AK-47. However, according to the European official, it appears the Houthi representatives also expressed interest in acquiring additional Russian military hardware, including Kornet anti-tank missiles and air defense systems.

It remains uncertain whether these transactions are being directly orchestrated by the Kremlin or simply permitted. The Houthis have long sought Russian-made arms, though The Wall Street Journal could not independently verify the specific sources of these potential supplies.

Efforts to reach Houthi representatives for comments have gone unanswered, and the Kremlin has yet to respond to inquiries about the situation.