OPERATION RELENTLESS The World’s Most-
Wanted Criminal, The Elite Forces Hunt to
Catch him, by Damien Lewis, Quercus Books,
18th May 2017 – £20.00
The untold story of the top-secret mission to capture Viktor Bout, Russian fugitive and the world’s foremost arms dealer, aka The Merchant of Death Based on unique first-hand testimony from the DEA undercover operatives on the team they used to trap Viktor Bout, including former SAS man Mike Snow Exclusive new material including photos, recordings and transcripts from the DEA files, along with first hand access to DEA undercover sources who masterminded the sting From the author of The Sunday Times No. 1 Bestseller Zero Six Bravo.
“Explosive: The Night Manager meets Narcos” – Saul David, Historian & Novelist
By 2007 Viktor Bout had become the world’s foremost arms dealer. Known as the ‘Merchant of Death’ he was “Public Enemy No. 1” to Western agencies – a ruthless criminal worth around $6 billion. By his own admission he was second only to Osama Bin Laden on the most-wanted list. For years Bout eluded capture, building up a labyrinthine network of airlines selling weapons to order to dictators, rebels, despots and terror groups worldwide. He was hunted by the CIA, NSA, MI6, as well as sought by the United Nations for being their top global sanctions buster. Holed up in Moscow – from where he ran a suite of offices selling anything from AK47s to state-of-the-art helicopter gunships and anti-aircraft missiles – he was shielded by a Russian state that was a partner in his dark dealings. In short, Bout appeared utterly invulnerable and beyond any hope of capture. Step forward former SAS man Mike Snow. After serving in the Regiment, Snow had worked as a bush pilot across Africa, where he had got to know Bout well. Via its own secretive, shadow network, Snow was approached by two US agents from the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA). They had one question: was Snow able to get to Viktor Bout? This is the incredible tale of Operation Relentless, the top-secret mission that Snow and a handful of operatives launched to entrap Bout – a story that ranges from the tropical jungles of Colombia to the ice-bound streets of Moscow, and from horrific bloodshed and tyranny in the Congo to laundering millions on Europe’s streets, culminating in a sting operation like no other.
About the Author
For two decades Damien Lewis worked as a war and conflict reporter for major broadcasters. He has reported across Africa, South America, the Middle and Far East, winning numerous awards including the 2007 OneWorld Media Award. His first book, Slave, won the 2004 Index on Censorship Book Award, was translated into thirty languages and was made into a film and stage play. Since 2001 he has written over a dozen non-fiction books and thrillers, topping the bestseller lists worldwide. His books include the Special Forces classics Operation Certain Death, Bloody Heroes and Cobra Gold, plus the Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller Zero Six Bravo. Damien has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities, and several of his books are in development and production as feature films and TV series.
Praise for Damien Lewis’ writing: ‘Modern drama at its best’ – The Mail on Sunday ‘A real gem of modern history. Poignant and beautifully told’ – The Sun ‘A triumph’ – The Economist ‘Revelatory’ – Sky News ‘A humbling, inspiring account of the founders of modern day Special Forces soldiering’ – Bear Grylls ‘Brilliantly captures the confusion, black humour and raw courage of combat’ – General Sir David Richards, former Chief of the Defence Staff ‘As good as any thriller I have ever read’ – Frederick Forsyth
