Myanmar's military-backed government has deported American businessman and former AmCham president Adam Castillo after three months in jail. Castillo was arrested in June 2026 over financial breach of trust allegations involving a $300,000 lobbying contract, which his supporters call trumped-up. The Trump administration and nonprofit Global Reach worked behind the scenes to secure his release, which Myanmar officials framed as a move to preserve friendly relations with the United States.
Castillo deportation from Myanmar
- ▪The office of Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing and state-run MRTV television stated that Adam Castillo was deported to preserve friendly bilateral relations between Myanmar and the United States.
- ▪Adam Castillo was arrested on June 11, 2026, at Yangon International Airport upon returning from Malaysia, where he had been promoting his recently published memoir.
- ▪Myanmar's military-backed government deported U.S. businessman Adam Castillo on September 16, 2026, after holding him in detention for three months.
AmCham financial impropriety allegations
- ▪An employee of Misfit Technologies stated that the $300,000 in fees to Mercury LLC were paid directly by Misfit Technologies' U.S. office because sanctions and Burmese regulations prevented payments from being sent from Myanmar.
- ▪The American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar filed a complaint alleging that Adam Castillo illegally collected $300,000 using the association's name for a contract with public relations firm Mercury LLC and failed to deposit the funds into the chamber's accounts.
- ▪Supporters of Adam Castillo provided a November 1, 2024 resolution on American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar letterhead approving the lobbying initiative, which Executive Director Myat Phyu The characterized as a fabricated document.
- ▪The Ministry of Information in Myanmar stated that Adam Castillo was held under Section 409 of the penal code for breach of trust and allegedly violating provisions in the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar constitution.
Trump administration diplomatic efforts
- ▪Global Reach CEO Mickey Bergman, who previously negotiated the 2021 release of detained American journalist Danny Fenster in Myanmar, confirmed that Global Reach was engaged by Adam Castillo's family to assist in the case.
- ▪The Washington-based nonprofit Global Reach and Adam Castillo's sister, Amanda Castillo, credited the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, with working behind the scenes to secure Castillo's release.
Myanmar government legitimacy seeking
- ▪While the United States maintains sanctions against Myanmar's leaders, members of the Trump administration have expressed a willingness to speak with all parties involved in the country's civil conflict.
- ▪The release of Adam Castillo occurred as Myanmar's military-backed government, led by President Min Aung Hlaing following a 2021 coup against elected leaders, sought international legitimacy.
Washington lobbying for business interests
- ▪Adam Castillo, a former U.S. Marine, operated the security risk management firm AGS Myanmar and founded the Myanmar chapter of Republicans Overseas.
- ▪In March 2026, Adam Castillo published a memoir that was critical of U.S. sanctions, the Myanmar military, and the American Chamber of Commerce leadership, while also detailing how he helped a dissident escape Myanmar.
- ▪Adam Castillo pitched a concept to high-level officials in Washington, including a 2025 meeting with Vice President JD Vance's office, to secure U.S. access to Myanmar's rare earth minerals in exchange for sanctions relief.
Debatable claims
- ▪The US should diplomatically engage with Myanmar's military-backed government
- ▪US sanctions on Myanmar hurt ordinary citizens more than the military regime
- ▪The US should ease sanctions on Myanmar to secure rare earth minerals
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