US businessman detained in Myanmar over alleged fraud

An American businessman and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar has been detained by authorities in Yangon. Adam Castillo, a former U.S. Marine and founder of the security firm AGS Myanmar, was taken into custody on Thursday, June 11, 2026, upon his arrival at Yangon International Airport.

The detention follows the publication of the chamber's annual report on May 29, which detailed an internal investigation into suspicious financial transactions by former board members. The report stated that a former board representative had, in November 2024, personally signed a contract with a Washington-based public relations firm, resulting in a payment of $300,000 that was collected and disbursed outside the organization's official accounts. The report noted the signature exceeded authorized signing limits and that the board never approved the agreement. The chamber commissioned a law firm to investigate and, in a June 12 statement, said its board had taken appropriate steps to safeguard the organization's interests. The chamber's executive director, Myat Phyu The, directed inquiries to the annual report, declining to elaborate further.