The world’s most dangerous arms dealer | DW Documentary

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Published 2023-06-29
He’s a key figure in the clandestine wranglings of two superpowers: the United States and China. The FBI announced a five-million-dollar bounty for information leading to his arrest. Intelligence agencies and investigators have been trying for decades to stop him in his tracks: the arms dealer Karl Lee.

The Chinese businessman has helped Iran develop its huge missiles arsenal. Missiles that kill in the Middle East, that are supplied to Russia for possible deployment in Ukraine and have the potential to carry nuclear warheads. The documentary is the first to tell the story of the hunt for the phantom-like Karl Lee, alias Li Fangwei, probably the world’s most dangerous weapons dealer. He’s been indicted in absentia in the US and American presidents have even personally asked Beijing to take action against him. But his network continues to be active; and he’s still high up on the FBI’s most-wanted list. And this, at a time when missiles and nuclear warheads are becoming a tangible threat to humanity.
The documentary follows Karl Lee’s trail across four continents, from Washington and New York to Tel Aviv, from Europe to Teheran, Beijing and Karl Lee’s factory in northeastern China. The prize-winning investigative journalists Philipp Grüll, Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer provide unique insights into the world of spy agencies and diplomacy. At the same time, the film is a lesson in the powerlessness of the West and the rise of China - as well as an unflinching appraisal of the new world order.

#documentary #dwdocumentary #china #usa
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All Comments (21)
  • @ABoredTroll
    Uncle Sam is clearly jealous, most Americans know that Uncle Sam is the largest arms dealer in the world.
  • 5 Million dollars to snitch on one of the most dangerous people in the world seems incredibly cheap to me.
  • @MikelGCinema
    "Li Fangwei did not respond to any of our enquiries" I burst into laughter!!!
  • If I were Carl Lee, I would really enjoy watching this documentary. Thank you DW!
  • @Lucifer777_
    “He is an individual, who exists.” Craazzy
  • @veerkar
    Funny that this guy did exactly what all weapons companies do. But he just sold things to someone the government did not like.
  • the idea that America sees some random dude as the worlds most dangerous arms dealer is just staggering. like hello America. you are the world most dangerous arms dealer.
  • @gifmesome
    "we just sat there all night, drinking beers, doing lines"
  • Carl Lei is like Confucius, he is not one person, he is a montage and composite of 10 people.
  • @desktopuser2912
    I love how they just blurted out, braggingly, that Morgenthau was deeply promoting Israeli interest as a NY prosecutor.
  • @denji5604
    That "The number you've dialed is not in service" at the end gave me goosebump,god only knows what really happened in this whole ordeal
  • @tangenterprise
    They seized $7 million of his money but only offering $5 million for his capture. Someone is $2 million richer 😂
  • @dyu007
    Someone bigger than Carl Li is behind all this. Li is just a pawn.
  • Hats off to you DW. This documentary is tremendously immersive, intriguing and intuitive. On a par with the James bond movie.
  • @hansshell6792
    Brilliant episode .. had me captivated all the way through.
  • @lesliechan68
    Something so secretive and so elusive. No way an individual is able to do this. More like a government or secret service behind the whole thing. The guy is like his companies, just a shell.
  • @lohchengfatt646
    What gives US any rights to judge other others when they commit the worst atrocities you can imagine.???? Hypocrites !!