WASHINGTON: The United States announced Wednesday that it was imposing sanctions on an armed Myanmar group — alongside four of its senior leaders — accusing them of supporting cyber scam centers that target Americans.
The action took aim at the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), alongside companies Trans Asia and Troth Star, for their alleged roles in helping to develop these scam centers, the US Treasury Department said.
“The revenue generated by scam center workers — who are often themselves victims of human trafficking — supports organized crime and allows the DKBA to finance its harmful activities,” the Treasury added.
John Hurley, the department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said that criminal networks operating out of Myanmar “are stealing billions of dollars from hardworking Americans through online scams.”
“These same networks traffic human beings and help fuel Burma’s brutal civil war,” he said in a statement, warning that the US government would continue pursuing cybercriminals.
The two firms targeted, alongside Thai national Chamu Sawang, are also linked to Chinese organized crime, the Treasury said.
The agency’s move adds to earlier actions against “illicit actors perpetrating these scams.”
In May, it designated the Karen National Army as a transnational criminal organization, alongside its leader and his two sons for their “roles in facilitating human trafficking and cyber scams that harm US citizens.”
In October, the Treasury — with UK counterparts — sanctioned a Cambodian business conglomerate called the Prince Group that operates scam centers, it added.
A US government estimate noted that Americans lost at least $10 billion in 2024 to Southeast Asia-based scam operations. This marked a 66-percent rise over the prior year.
US sanctions Myanmar armed group over scams
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US sanctions Myanmar armed group over scams
- John Hurley, the department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said that criminal networks operating out of Myanmar “are stealing billions of dollars from hardworking Americans through online scams”
Brazil’s Lula accuses Trump of seeking to forge ‘new UN’
- Lula defended multilateralism against what he called “the law of the jungle” in global affairs
- Key US allies including France and Britain have also expressed doubts
BRASILIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Donald Trump on Friday of trying to create “a new UN” with his proposed “Board of Peace.”
The veteran leftist joins other world leaders who have avoided signing up for Trump’s new global conflict resolution organization, where a permanent seat costs $1 billion and the chairman is Trump himself.
“Instead of fixing” the United Nations, “what’s happening? President Trump is proposing to create a new UN where only he is the owner,” Lula said.
Trump unveiled his “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos Thursday, joined on stage by leaders and officials from 19 countries to sign its founding charter.
Lula defended multilateralism against what he called “the law of the jungle” in global affairs.
His remarks come a day after he spoke by phone with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who urged his counterpart to safeguard the “central role” of the United Nations in international affairs.
In his remarks on Friday, Lula said “the UN charter is being torn.”
Although originally intended to oversee Gaza’s rebuilding, the board’s charter does not seem to limit its role to the Palestinian territory and appears to want to rival the United Nations.
Key US allies including France and Britain have also expressed doubts.
London balked at the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces are fighting in Ukraine after invading in 2022.
France said the charter as it currently stood was “incompatible” with its international commitments, especially its UN membership.
