In a chilling reminder of how crime, technology, and conflict intersect, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued sanctions against Myanmar's Karen National Army (KNA) and its top leaders for their alleged involvement in human trafficking and cyber scam operations that span international borders.
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For many global readers, Myanmar may be more associated with political unrest and military coups. But in recent years, regions like Kayin state have also become hubs for “scam compounds”—criminal enterprises that enslave trafficked individuals and force them to perpetrate online fraud, targeting victims around the world.
Now, U.S. authorities are taking action. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Colonel Saw Chit Thu, leader of the KNA, and his sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit. According to official reports, they have orchestrated a network that lures people—often from neighboring countries—with fake job offers, only to trap them in facilities where they are forced to execute online scams under duress, including threats of violence.
Nepal its going up on scams and illegal gambling transactions
These centers reportedly generate billions in illicit revenue, some of which fuels armed groups in Myanmar and other transnational criminal operations. Victims include citizens from across Southeast Asia, as well as Western nationals defrauded via romance scams, phishing schemes, and investment fraud.
The sanctions block the individuals and their companies from accessing any assets within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit American citizens and entities from conducting business with them. This is part of a broader effort by Washington to cut off the financial lifelines of human trafficking rings operating under the guise of militia control.
While the KNA has denied involvement, labeling the sanctions a political attack, the U.S. move aligns with rising international concern. Rights organizations and investigative journalists have long warned of a “cyber slavery economy” growing in Southeast Asia, facilitated by political instability, corruption, and weak enforcement in border regions. This latest development signals that human exploitation in the digital age is not just a human rights issue—but a national security threat.
