U.S. Treasury Imposes Sanctions on Burmese Militia Linked to Crypto Thefts

The U.S. Treasury Department has taken action against a Burmese militia group, the Karen National Army (KNA), imposing sanctions for allegedly facilitating cyber crimes that impact American citizens.

Key Points:

• The KNA has been reported to operate a large network involved in cyber scams and crypto thefts.
• The sanctions target the organization’s leaders, blocking their access to U.S. assets.

Overview

A militia faction in Burma known as the Karen National Army has been restricted from the U.S. financial system by the Treasury due to its alleged role in enabling transnational crime, including human trafficking and crypto scams. The group is purported to have collaborated with criminal organizations, contributing to significant financial losses related to cryptocurrency fraud.

According to reports from the Treasury Department, under the KNA’s control, various establishments were repurposed to execute large-scale pig butchering scams that tricked U.S. nationals via false romantic relationships, ultimately leading to significant financial thefts. Many individuals involved in these scams were reported to be coerced into participation under duress.

In the latest sanctions, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has targeted not just the KNA, but also its key figure, Saw Chit Thu, along with his sons Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit. This action is significant as it follows the U.S. government’s recent efforts to cut financial ties with various organizations linked to criminal activities in Southeast Asia.