- U.S. Treasury sanctioned Myanmar’s KNA for crypto scams, trafficking, and forced labor crimes.
- KNA defrauded Americans of over $5.5B through romance and crypto investment scams.
- Sanctions block KNA leaders’ U.S. assets and aim to disrupt their cybercrime operations.
In a landmark enforcement move, the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned Myanmar’s Karen National Army (KNA) over a massive crypto-related fraud campaign. The KNA has been designated as a transnational criminal organization for its role in cyber scams, forced labor, and trafficking operations.
On 5 May, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions targeting KNA leaders and associates, including militia chief Saw Chit Thu and his sons Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit. The trio has been accused of orchestrating fraudulent online schemes targeting U.S. citizens.
Officials revealed that the KNA operates large-scale scam compounds near the Thai-Myanmar border, supported by armed security and infrastructure controlled by the militia. According to U.S. authorities, the group leases land to crime syndicates and profits from energy sales and smuggling.
The scammers lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investments after building online relationships. As the bonding strengthens, the victims are tricked into transferring amounts into the fake platform. The FBI estimated that over $6.5 billion was lost in crypto investment fraud last year alone.
Further research revealed that a majority of such operations took place in a KNA-controlled town, Shwe Kokko. According to reports, labor trafficking victims from across Asia are forced into fraudulent work, and if they resist, they face threats or abuse.
This action marks one of the Treasury Department’s first direct crackdowns on a militia group exploiting cryptocurrency systems. “This is a billion-dollar criminal industry devastating families worldwide,” stated U.S. Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender.
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KNA compounds reportedly offer security to scam groups and allow them to operate with minimal oversight. In 2024, the European Union sanctioned Saw Chit Thu for facilitating scam networks and his ties to Myanmar’s military junta.
OFAC’s move blocks the sanctioned individuals from accessing assets in U.S. jurisdictions and prohibits American citizens from engaging in any transactions with them. The sanctions come amid growing international cooperation to fight crypto-related crime and follow U.S. actions against Russian-linked crypto wallets.
Officials view this action as part of a broader effort to dismantle the growing scam industry in Southeast Asia and limit the misuse of blockchain technologies for criminal gain. As global agencies step up enforcement, they hope to limit harm and restore trust in digital finance platforms.
