After DKBA Sanctions and She Zhijiang’s Extradition, Is Saw Chit Thu Next?

On Wednesday, the US took decisive action against cyber scam operations by imposing sanctions on the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and four of its senior leaders: Saw Steel, Sai Kyaw Hla, Saw Sein Win and Saw San Aung.

According to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), these individuals were sanctioned due to their involvement in cyber scam activities targeting US citizens. The DKBA has collaborated with transnational crime syndicates to operate online scam centers, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for victims, the department said.

In addition, OFAC sanctioned two Thai companies and a Thai national implicated in facilitating scam centers linked to Chinese criminal networks.

Another notable development is Washington’s establishment of the Scam Center Strike Force in response to the rise of scam centers in Southeast Asia. This body is specifically tasked with addressing scam operations across Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. US diplomats have communicated their concerns to Myanmar authorities, urging action against online scam centers operating within their borders.