US businessman detained in Myanmar after book release

An American businessman with long-standing ties to Myanmar has been detained in Yangon after publishing a book critical of the country’s military rulers and US sanctions policy.

Adam Castillo, a former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, was stopped at an airport on Thursday upon returning to the country, according to people briefed on the matter. The US State Department confirmed it was aware of reports of his detention but declined to comment further.

Castillo, who runs a security firm in Yangon, had recently been abroad promoting Finding Our Voice, a book recounting his decision to remain in Myanmar after the 2021 coup. The work describes the military’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests, while also criticising Washington’s sanctions as ineffective and urging greater business engagement.

The coup ended Myanmar’s brief experiment with democratic rule under Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the nation into civil war. Armed resistance groups allied with ethnic minorities continue to fight the army, while former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president in April following elections widely condemned as engineered by the military.

Castillo, a former US Marine, has previously visited the White House to discuss Myanmar’s future. He reportedly suggested Washington could act as a peace broker while gaining access to the country’s rare earth minerals, a resource of growing strategic importance.

His detention highlights the risks faced by foreigners who engage directly with Myanmar’s turbulent politics. It also underscores the sensitivity of criticism directed at both the junta and US policy, particularly at a time when Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking to consolidate power and legitimacy.

Officials in Naypyidaw have not commented on the case, leaving questions over whether Castillo faces formal charges or prolonged detention. For now, his arrest adds another layer of uncertainty to Myanmar’s already volatile landscape, where international voices are often viewed with suspicion.

-2026-06-14