The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a Burmese armed group, and four senior leaders for their involvement in cyber scam centers operating in Burma that target Americans through fraudulent investment schemes. The designations also include Trans Asia International Holding Group Thailand Company Limited (Trans Asia), Troth Star Company Limited (Troth Star), and Thai national Chamu Sawang, who are linked to Chinese organized crime and have collaborated with DKBA and other armed groups to establish these scam operations.
“Criminal networks operating out of Burma are stealing billions of dollars from hardworking Americans through online scams,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. “These same networks traffic human beings and help fuel Burma’s brutal civil war. The Administration will keep using every tool we have to go after these cybercriminals—wherever they operate—and to protect American families from their exploitation.”
This action was taken in coordination with several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s San Diego field office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the criminal division of the Department of Justice, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Alongside these sanctions, federal authorities announced the formation of a Scam Center Strike Force led by agents and attorneys from multiple agencies. This new initiative will focus on investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting major Southeast Asian scam centers with an emphasis on operations based in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. The strike force will work collaboratively with OFAC, the Department of State, and other government entities to use available tools such as sanctions, asset seizures, criminal prosecution, public education campaigns about scams targeting Americans, as well as support for victims seeking restitution.
These latest designations follow previous actions by Treasury aimed at disrupting Southeast Asian scam operations affecting Americans. In May 2025, OFAC designated another Burmese armed group—the Karen National Army—and its leadership for roles in human trafficking and cyber scams targeting U.S. citizens. In September 2025, twelve companies and two individuals based in Cambodia and Burma involved in similar activities were also sanctioned.
In October 2025, working jointly with UK authorities, OFAC designated Prince Group—a Cambodian conglomerate running scam centers—as a transnational criminal organization along with 146 associates; simultaneously it cut off Huione Group from access to the U.S. financial system due to its role laundering proceeds from cyber heists involving North Korean actors and regional criminal organizations.
According to estimates cited by U.S. authorities, Americans lost at least $10 billion in 2024 due to scams run out of Southeast Asia—a significant increase over previous years. These scams typically involve recruiting workers under false pretenses who are then forced through threats or violence to target American victims online using social engineering tactics like pretending romantic interest or friendship before convincing them to invest money on fraudulent platforms controlled by scammers.
The DKBA is alleged not only to provide security for scam compounds but also participate directly in acts of violence against trafficked workers inside facilities such as Tai Chang compound near Myawaddy in Karen State—territory under DKBA control—which was established by senior DKBA leader Sai Kyaw Hla together with Trans Asia acting as a front for Chinese crime groups’ investments into scam infrastructure.
OFAC is sanctioning Trans Asia, Troth Star Company Limited, DKBA itself—including Sai Kyaw Hla—under several executive orders relating both to cyber-enabled activities threatening U.S interests as well as actions threatening peace or stability within Burma.
Senior figures targeted include Saw Steel (commander-in-chief), Saw Sein Win (adjutant general), Saw San Aung (chief of staff) of DKBA; Chamu Sawang/Yu Jianjun is named director at Trans Asia—all sanctioned under relevant executive orders related both to their organizational leadership roles and direct involvement in illicit activity supporting or profiting from scam operations.
As a result of these measures all property belonging to designated persons/entities within or controlled by United States persons is blocked; further transactions involving these parties are generally prohibited without specific authorization from OFAC regulations—with possible civil or criminal penalties for violations.
The department emphasized that while OFAC has authority both to add names onto its Specially Designated Nationals list (SDN List) or remove them if circumstances change—the ultimate aim remains behavioral change rather than punishment alone.
