The U.S. Treasury Department has placed sanctions on Myanmar militia leader Saw Chit Thu, his two sons, and their group, the Karen National Army, or KNA, for their role in cyber scams.
The KNA, previously known as the Karen Border Guard, has been labeled a significant transnational criminal organization. This means it cannot own property in the United States or do business with Americans.
Saw Chit Thu’s sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit, were also named in the sanctions. All three are accused of running cyber scams from the Thai-Myanmar border, in an area called Shwe Kokko.
According to the U.S. Treasury, cyber scams from Myanmar and nearby countries caused more than 2 billion dollars in losses in 2022 and 3.5 billion dollars in 2023. Many victims were Americans.
The KNA reportedly made money by renting land to criminal groups, protecting scam operations, and helping with human trafficking and smuggling. Many scam workers were tricked or forced into working in call centers, often under threats and abuse.
The group also worked with a businessman named She Zhijiang, who was arrested in Thailand in 2022. He is connected to illegal operations in Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines.
Saw Chit Thu is described as a key figure in these crimes. He and his sons have not commented on the sanctions.
