15 Biggest Bounties Put on Criminals in the 1990s

Additional Coverage:

15 of the wildest bounties put out for criminals in the late 1990s (wealthgang.com)

The Nineties’ Most Wanted: When Bounties Went Big

Before the age of ubiquitous cameras and digital footprints, the late 1990s marked a unique era in law enforcement. Agencies worldwide, grappling with dangerous criminals and elusive fugitives, turned to a classic tool: the bounty.

These “dead or alive” (well, mostly alive) rewards weren’t just about cash; they represented a global commitment to justice, turning criminal pursuits into international sagas. Let’s take a look back at some of the biggest names and even bigger rewards from that time.

1. Osama bin Laden

By the late 90s, Osama bin Laden had ascended to the ranks of the planet’s most wanted. With links to multiple terrorist attacks already on his rap sheet, the U.S. government put a $5 million bounty on his head for information leading to his capture. His image was everywhere, a stark reminder of the growing threat of international terrorism before the new millennium.

2. Whitey Bulger

Boston’s criminal underworld was Whitey Bulger’s domain for decades, all while secretly acting as an FBI informant. When he vanished just before indictment in the late 90s, a $2 million bounty was placed on his capture, turning the elusive gangster into a national manhunt target.

3. Ramzi Yousef

The mastermind behind the devastating 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Ramzi Yousef quickly became one of the decade’s most sought-after terrorists. U.S. authorities offered a $5 million bounty as they desperately worked to dismantle his network and prevent further attacks.

4. Ayman al-Zawahiri

A top leader in Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri rose to prominence in global terrorism during the late 1990s. Following the tragic bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa, international authorities dramatically increased the reward for his capture, eventually reaching an astonishing $25 million.

5. Mir Aimal Kasi

The 1990s saw an intense international manhunt for Mir Aimal Kasi, the gunman responsible for a deadly attack outside CIA headquarters. After fleeing the U.S., a $2 million bounty was offered for any information leading to his apprehension.

6. Ted Kaczynski

Known infamously as the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski waged a nearly two-decade-long bombing campaign that terrorized the nation. By the late 90s, a $2 million bounty was active for information leading to his arrest, making it one of the largest domestic rewards of its kind.

7. Eric Rudolph

Following a series of bombings targeting public events in the late 1990s, Eric Rudolph became one of America’s most elusive domestic terrorists. Federal authorities offered a $1 million bounty as he famously disappeared into the rugged mountains of North Carolina.

8. Semion Mogilevich

By the close of the 90s, Semion Mogilevich was recognized as one of the world’s most powerful and enigmatic organized crime figures. The FBI put a $5 million bounty on his head for information that could lead to his capture.

9. Victor Manuel Gerena

Victor Manuel Gerena remained one of the longest-running fugitives linked to domestic terrorism in the U.S. by the late 1990s. A $1 million bounty was offered for information leading to his capture, his case highlighting the complexities of international manhunts in an era before widespread digital tracking.

10. Dawood Ibrahim

The late 1990s saw Dawood Ibrahim emerge as one of the most powerful and elusive crime bosses globally. U.S. authorities later placed a staggering $25 million bounty on his capture, a testament to the challenges of bringing international crime figures to justice before the digital age.

11. Abimael Guzman

In the early 1990s, Abimael Guzman became Peru’s most wanted man, with authorities offering a reward equivalent to approximately $10 million USD-one of Latin America’s highest at the time.

12. Miguel Gallardo

While arrested before the late 90s, the monumental rewards associated with Miguel Gallardo’s capture continued to resonate throughout the decade. Estimates placed the combined bounties and incentives for his arrest at several million dollars, setting a precedent for future drug kingpin pursuits.

13. James “Whitey” Bulger Associates

As the hunt for Whitey Bulger intensified in the late 1990s, federal authorities broadened their scope, offering rewards for information on his closest associates. Individual bounties of up to $1 million were offered for tips that could crack his inner circle.

14. Carlos the Jackal

Even decades past his peak, Carlos the Jackal remained a highly sought-after international fugitive throughout much of the 1990s. Multiple governments collectively offered rewards estimated at several million dollars, reflecting his long and notorious history of cross-border operations.

15. El Chapo

By the end of the 1990s, El Chapo was rapidly ascending as one of the most powerful figures in global drug trafficking. Mexican and U.S. authorities jointly offered a bounty estimated at several million dollars for information leading to his capture, marking the beginning of his legendary cat-and-mouse game with law enforcement.