"Treasury Sanctions Burma Armed Group and Companies Linked to Organized Crime Targeting Americans", 12 November 2025

… the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a Burmese armed group, along with four of its senior leaders, for supporting cyber scam centers in Burma that target Americans using fraudulent investment schemes. OFAC is also designating 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 worked with the DKBA and other armed groups to develop these scam centers. 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…

ARMED GROUPS AND SCAM COMPOUNDS IN BURMA

One compound known to have housed cyber scam operations that have targeted and stolen money from Americans is Tai Chang, located near Myawaddy in Burma’s Karen State… The Tai Chang compound was founded by Sai Kyaw Hla, a brigadier general and senior leader of the DKBA, and Trans Asia, a Mae Sot, Thailand-based company that serves as a front for China-based TCOs to invest in scam centers. Trans Asia has also entered into land lease contracts with other entities—including the OFAC-designated KNA and the Burma-based company Troth Star—to develop other scam compounds, including the Huanya compound and the notorious KK Park compound, both located in Myawaddy in Karen State. Scam operators working at these compounds have frequently targeted and stolen money from U.S. persons.

The DKBA not only provides security for the Tai Chang compound and permits its continued operation, but also actively participates in violence against victims of human trafficking trapped inside the compound. DKBA soldiers have been filmed beating handcuffed scam workers. Rescued victims have claimed that they were subjected to electric shocks, being hung by their arms inside dark rooms, and other brutal treatment. For its participation in these scam operations, the DKBA receives funding that it uses to support its ongoing illicit activities. The DKBA partners with Chinese organized crime on drug, human, arms, and wildlife trafficking, as well as money laundering…

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

…, all property and interests in property of the blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked…