Story perspectives

US Seizes $700 Million Crypto, Arrests Myanmar Scam Leaders

4/24/2026

Summary

U.S. Authorities Seize

U.S. authorities seized over $700 million in cryptocurrency linked to Southeast Asian scam centers.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicted Chinese nationals Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie for running the Shunda Park compound in Myanmar.
Thai police arrested Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie after they left Myanmar, keeping them in custody pending U.S. extradition.
The Treasury Department sanctioned senator Kok An and 28 others, and the State Department offered a $10 million reward for Tai Chang scam information.

Summary

Raksmei Sanctioned

Human rights groups estimate up to 300,000 people are trapped in scam compounds where workers receive false job offers, have passports seized and face quotas under threats of violence.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned K99 Group head Rithy Raksmei for linking his casino properties to trafficking and fraud after the network operated from Crown Resorts.
Cambodia’s parliament passed a new cyber-scam law after U.S. sanctions heightened pressure.

History

Historical Context

In October 2013 the U.S. Justice Department shut down Ross Ulbricht’s Silk Road, confiscating roughly 144,000 bitcoins (~$3.6 million). Later raids—including the 2014 Operation Onymous seizure of 27 markets and the 2017 AlphaBay takedown—created a template for coordinated crypto sanctions. Building on that precedent, U.S. agencies and foreign partners froze assets in 30 countries this year, seizing over $700 million tied to Myanmar scams run by Chinese nationals.

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U.S. Authorities Seize

U.S. authorities seized over $700 million in cryptocurrency linked to Southeast Asian scam centers.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicted Chinese nationals Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie for running the Shunda Park compound in Myanmar.
Thai police arrested Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie after they left Myanmar, keeping them in custody pending U.S. extradition.
The Treasury Department sanctioned senator Kok An and 28 others, and the State Department offered a $10 million reward for Tai Chang scam information.

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