US Targets Burmese Warlord and Militia with Sanctions Over Cyber Scams and Human Trafficking

The United States Treasury Department has announced sanctions against Saw Chit Thu, a prominent Burmese warlord, and his militia, the Karen National Army (KNA), citing their deep involvement in cyber scams, human trafficking, and illegal cross-border smuggling operations.

Operating primarily in Kayin State in southeastern Myanmar, Saw Chit Thu heads the KNA, an ethnic militia with significant territorial control in remote regions such as Shwe Kokko and Myawaddy Township, areas situated near the Thai border. These towns have emerged as major hubs for online gambling and cyber scam centers, many of which are staffed by trafficked workers reportedly forced into labor under coercive conditions.

In addition to his role as a militia leader, Saw Chit Thu is also known as a businessman who is deeply entrenched in unlawful casino operations and the broader online gambling industry. His militia has been accused of directly facilitating scam compounds by providing security and leasing land to criminal syndicates, which use the properties to run large-scale fraud schemes.

“Under Saw Chit Thu’s leadership, the KNA has become a key enabler of scam operations in the region, providing security at compounds and leasing land to criminal organizations while profiting handsomely at the expense of scam victims and of the otherwise innocent people forced to carry out these crimes,” the Treasury Department stated.

According to US Treasury figures, Americans lost over $3.5 billion in 2023 to scams linked to transnational criminal networks operating out of Myanmar and surrounding countries.

“Cyber scam operations, such as those run by the KNA, generate billions in revenue for criminal kingpins and their associates, while depriving victims of their hard-earned savings and sense of security,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender. “Treasury is committed to using all available tools to disrupt these networks and hold accountable those who seek to profit from these criminal schemes,” he added.

The KNA originated as part of a decades-long insurgency seeking autonomy for the Karen ethnic group. Though it entered into a ceasefire agreement with the military regime in 2009—gaining de facto control over some of its strongholds—it officially severed ties with the junta in 2024 and resumed hostilities against the central government.

With thousands of fighters entrenched in jungle and mountainous terrain, the KNA remains a formidable force that the Burmese military has struggled to uproot. Their proximity to the Thai border allows for logistical support and fallback options, making their elimination by government forces especially difficult.

The US sanctions freeze any American-held assets belonging to the KNA and its senior leadership, including Saw Chit Thu. In addition, American individuals and entities are prohibited from engaging in any financial transactions or business dealings with the group.

The Treasury warned that foreign companies maintaining ties with the KNA could also be subjected to punitive measures.

The latest US sanctions follow similar actions recently taken by the United Kingdom and the European Union as part of a broader international effort to clamp down on regional crime syndicates and human rights violations in Myanmar. 

By fLEXI tEAM