Chapter 14 The First Arms Deal

The peddler Valentin met in Kandahar claimed that he could get the needle missile he needed and another more advanced US-made Stinger missile. Valentin thought the other party was bragging. But he still underestimated the ability of these locals with all-hands-eyes.

Due to the form of security in Afghanistan, firearms are almost like a necessity of life. Now in Afghanistan, even if ordinary people go out to the hospital to see a doctor, they will go with weapons. Therefore, it is not inconceivable to sell guns and ammunition frankly on the black market.

Behind the weapon stall owner was obviously a team with strength and background, but within three days, Valentin saw these two individual air defense missiles belonging to different camps in the yard of the weapon stall owner's house.

The weapon stall owner had procured a set of launchers for each of the Stinger and Needle missiles, and three of each of the two missiles. They are placed in different ammunition boxes.

"I'm not surprised that you can get American weapons, but why can you even get Soviet weapons?" Although Valentin was happy to get the weapons, the former KGB was saddened by the corrupt military discipline of the Soviet army. He was playing for his country not so long ago. Even now, the sense of mission in him still makes him want to find out how these Afghans traded with the scum in the Red Army.

“We have people in the Afghan People’s Army and the Mujahideen, and they are willing to exchange weapons they don’t need for money!” said the arms stall owner without reservation, and he had no problem showing himself to potential big buyers. Close relationship with both the Afghan government and the mujahideen.

"Then what price do you plan to sell?" Valentin inquired.

"Soviet missiles cost $10,000 each, and a set of launchers is given for every three launchers. American missiles are about $15,000 each, and launchers are also given as a set for every three launchers!" Jing replied.

"Can it be cheaper?" Valentin asked.

"This is already the cheapest. You have to know that we are the only ones who can get this kind of missile locally!" the weapon stall owner firmly denied.

"Then how much more can you get? For this price, I'll take it all!" Valentin said bluntly. Picking up for nothing.

"I can only get these at the moment. You must know my friend. Occasionally, one or two weapons are missing in the warehouse, which is not conspicuous, but if they are emptied, they are easy to be found!" Xiang Wa, the owner of the weapon stall Lian Jing explained.

Valentin took out several bundles of green banknote rolls from his body without hesitation, and each banknote roll was worth ten thousand dollars. After Valentin paid 75,000 U.S. dollars to the weapon stall owner, he rewarded his little follower, Kasim, 1,000 U.S. dollars, and everyone was happy.

"You are such a generous buyer, it's a pleasure to do business with someone like you!" the weapon stall owner said politely to Valentin.

"I feel the same way, I hope I can buy more missiles when I come back next time!" Valentin replied politely.

"Will you come next time? When?" The weapon stall owner was a little surprised. You must know that although the missile is powerful, it is complicated to operate and the price is high. Few customers will be interested in this weapon. Valentin is almost This stall owner is the biggest customer he has ever met since he opened.

"That depends on when you will be able to prepare the goods here. I don't want to buy these missiles three by three. It is best to get me twenty at once! You have to know that the time is Money, wasting my time is nothing but money!" Valentin said triumphantly.

The weapon stall owner shook hands with Valentin helplessly, and sent him back to the hotel. After arriving at the hotel, Valentin sent Kasim to lookout, picked up the satellite phone and dialed Petrov's number.

"Boss, I got it! I got three Soviet-made ones and three American-made ones. The question now is how to ship these back?" Valentin reported to Petrov in a low voice.

"Is it pretty fast? Where are you now?" Dad asked with satisfaction on the phone.

"Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, a city close to Pakistan! Although the road from here to Kabul is still safe, the road conditions are too bad, it is not safe to transport missiles, and there are still guerrilla activities nearby!" Valentin kept talking about his difficulties on the phone, and now Valentin can't wait to fly back to Moscow immediately and hand over these missiles to Petrov. You know, according to the previously agreed price, these missiles will bring Valentin a huge wealth of nearly 1.7 million U.S. dollars. Valentin didn't want to fail in transportation in the end.

"I didn't ask, but if you stay at your current place for a few more days, I will find a way to send a plane to pick you up!" Father Petrov said calmly.

"Fly...Airplane? Are you joking?" Valentin thought Petrov was telling another joke.

"Yes, the plane! What you need is a transport plane. I'm right! Wait for us for a few days, and we will pick you up as quickly as possible!" Father Petrov replied affirmatively.

...

Five days later, when Valentin saw a Tu-144D modified cargo plane at the airfield of the Soviet Air Force Base in Kandahar, he exclaimed in his heart: "These gangsters are really capable of TND, They actually sent the fastest plane from the Soviet Union!"

Valentin bought a property in Kandahar before leaving and asked Kasim to wait here for his return. At the same time, he also paid a deposit of about 10,000 U.S. dollars to the weapon stall owner as a basis for the next transaction.

Valentin's missiles were repackaged into the interior of a large anti-Afghanistan-inspired sculpture and flown aboard the plane as a work of art. He noticed that the airline listed on the plane was Mediterranean Shipping Company. The pilots and crew members on the plane were Russians like Valentin, but Valentin was surprised to learn that the transporters who transported the goods spoke Spanish.

"Hello Valentin, I'm Gomez, the Spanish translator of MSC!" The other party introduced himself nicely.

"Well, I would like to ask, why did you send me a Spanish translator, aren't we going back to Russia?" Valentin asked suspiciously.

"No, we are going to fly to Medellin, Colombia to complete this business. The boss told me that you are our product after-sales engineer! You are going to Colombia to show the performance of the product to buyers!" Gomez replied stupidly .