The bin Laden hunt continues… underwater

Given how long it took to find a live and active Osama bin Laden on land, I can only imagine that finding his dead body somewhere in the Indian Ocean might be even more of a challenge. But don’t tell professional treasure hunter Bill Warren that:  Over the past 30 years, Warren, an entrepreneur and ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Given how long it took to find a live and active Osama bin Laden on land, I can only imagine that finding his dead body somewhere in the Indian Ocean might be even more of a challenge. But don't tell professional treasure hunter Bill Warren that: 

Given how long it took to find a live and active Osama bin Laden on land, I can only imagine that finding his dead body somewhere in the Indian Ocean might be even more of a challenge. But don’t tell professional treasure hunter Bill Warren that: 

Over the past 30 years, Warren, an entrepreneur and sunken-treasure hunter from California, says he has discovered 150 wrecks and recovered loot that totals several million dollars. Brushing off skeptics, he has attempted to uncover legendary wrecks such as the San Francisco Xavier, which sank in 1705, and a Spanish caravel called the Trinidad dating back to the mid-1500s, according to media reports.

The bin Laden mission may be the most far-fetched yet.

"If we are successful and find him with sonar and recover him with a remote-operated vehicle, we’ll recover the body in the bag and take photographs, video, and a DNA test — maybe of his hair or his beard."

Warren is still not entirely sure how bin Laden’s DNA will be confirmed from what he potentially may recover, but wonders if a Bin Laden family member might confirm the DNA to bring an end to his quest for proof.

"I know his family lives in Arabia," he said.

For a scheme that Warren plans to drop about $1 million on, this doesn’t seem all that thought through: 

"There is still a $25 million reward that no one has collected, and the reward says dead or alive, well, if — in fact — he is dead, then I could collect the $25 million reward. Why not?"

Unfortunately for Warren, the reward is no longer being offered. Though this was explained to Warren, he insisted that he’s going to continue his hunt.

I know one person who would be more than happy to come along. 

 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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