Asia·Myanmar
Myanmar stays on the global money-laundering blacklist alongside only Iran and North Korea, despite Japan's lobbying
BANGKOK —
Depth
Dig five layers into this story — from what happened to the full picture.
L1What happened
FATF called for continued "application of enhanced due diligence" on Myanmar, telling financial institutions to "increase the degree and nature of monitoring" of business tied to the country.
L2Who’s affected
Myanmar banks and firms stay outside the mainstream financial system, and companies dealing with Myanmar citizens face onerous reporting. FATF said humanitarian aid, legitimate non-profit work and remittances should "neither [be] disrupted nor discouraged."
L3Why it’s quiet
Analysis · OVERLOOKED FATF list renewals are routine-sounding technical decisions, and Myanmar news is crowded out by bigger conflicts.
L4Deeper impact
FATF said "fraud and cyber scam activities in Myanmar remain extensive and present significant illicit finance risks." If no further progress is made by February 2027, it "will consider countermeasures," including greater oversight and potential banking restrictions.
L5Full context
Myanmar was blacklisted in October 2022. The article says scamming, money laundering and methamphetamine production have grown since the 2021 coup. Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing became president when direct military rule ended in April and has sought full ASEAN reintegration; the U.S. has held direct talks with Myanmar officials in recent months, sometimes with Japanese support.
You’ve reached the bottom. Read the original reporting below.
Original reporting
This is an OVERLOOKED summary of the reporting above. Facts and figures come from the linked sources. Everything here is a fact unless it is labelled otherwise. Support this work.
Alerts Get stories like this your way: email, a daily PDF paper, notifications, RSS, or alerts on topics you follow. Choose how →