The US State Department is increasing the reward for information that will allow the arrest of a Kyrgyz crime boss Kamchybek Kolbaev.

"Today the U.S. Department of State announces a reward increase of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Kamchybek Kolbaev and/or for information leading to the disruption of financial mechanisms of Kolbaev’s criminal organization," U.S. Embassy Bishkek reported.

Back in 2000, Kolbaev was convicted of attempted murder of his former boss in a criminal group and the murder of two more people. He was sentenced to 25 years, but after serving six years, he escaped from prison.

In 2012, the US intelligence services included Kolbaev in the list of the largest drug lords in the world.

Kolbaev later was detained on October 22, 2020, in Bishkek.