The Irrawaddy A rights group has revealed that the family of Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing attempted to launder 800 kilograms of gold — worth around US$48 million — in the months following the 2021 military takeover. Justice for Myanmar (JFM) says the scheme was orchestrated by the general’s daughter, Khin Thiri Thet Mon, and involved routing the gold through Thailand, Laos and Hong Kong. Draft contracts and leaked correspondence show the plan centred on selling the gold at a discount to Lao conglomerate AIF Group, with payments channelled through its subsidiary BIC Bank Lao. The network relied on junta crony Tun Min Latt, a prominent arms broker, and then‑Thai senator Upakit Pachariyangkun. Tun Min Latt acted as intermediary, disguising the gold’s origins via a Thai company and reportedly helping the family secure a US$3 million luxury residence in Bangkok. While documents suggest 200 kilograms of gold had already been sold, the larger deal collapsed in mid‑2021 after both sides failed to agree on security guarantees. JFM accuses Min Aung Hlaing’s family and associates of “direct involvement in money laundering and asset theft,” enriching themselves while Myanmar’s economy crumbled. The watchdog argues that the junta sits at the centre of a web of transnational crime, including cyber scams, human trafficking and illegal gambling, fuelling war crimes and crimes against humanity. It has called for coordinated sanctions to block the regime’s access to funds, arms and aviation fuel, and urged governments not to recognise Min Aung Hlaing’s rebranded “civilian” administration. “Since the sham election, the junta has intensified indiscriminate airstrikes and continued its campaign of arbitrary arrests and torture,” said JFM spokeswoman Yadanar Maung. “They are committing international crimes with total impunity.” The revelations highlight how Myanmar’s ruling circle sought to protect its wealth abroad even as millions at home fell deeper into poverty. -2026-07-19
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