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19m ago

US Sanctions Myanmar Warlord and Militia Over Cyberscams and Trafficking

The Treasury targets Karen National Army leader Saw Chit Thu, his sons, and their criminal networks in a push to disrupt illicit cross-border operations.

FILE - Thai soldiers provide security for the transfer of Chinese nationals who had worked at scam centers in eastern Myanmar, on their arrival at Thailand's Mae Sot International Airport, Tak province before being sent back to China on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Sarot Meksophawannakul, File)
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Overview

  • The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Karen National Army (KNA), its leader Saw Chit Thu, and his two sons for facilitating cyberscams, human trafficking, and smuggling.
  • The KNA controls the Myawaddy region on the Thai-Burmese border, a hub for transnational crime and over $1 billion in annual trade.
  • Cyberscam operations linked to the KNA generate billions in revenue for criminal networks while defrauding victims globally.
  • Saw Chit Thu's ties to Myanmar's junta, including an honorary title from General Min Aung Hlaing in 2022, highlight blurred lines between state authority and criminal activity.
  • US officials have committed to using all available tools to disrupt these networks and hold perpetrators accountable.