Myanmar's military-backed government deported U.S. citizen Adam Castillo on Wednesday, three months after his detention. Castillo, a former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, was released from Naypyitaw and flown to Bangkok, Thailand, before his anticipated return to the U.S. His release was attributed by Global Reach, a nonprofit that aids Americans detained overseas, to efforts by the Trump administration.
Castillo, 40, a former U.S. Marine and owner of AGS Myanmar, was arrested on June 11 at Yangon International Airport upon returning from Malaysia. The arrest stemmed from allegations of financial impropriety by AmCham Myanmar, which accused him of violating organizational bylaws. Specifically, AmCham Myanmar's complaint centered on a lobbying effort Castillo initiated while president (2023-2025) to create the U.S.-Burma Economic Forum and a $300,000 contract with Washington public relations firm Mercury LLC. AmCham Myanmar claimed Castillo "illegally collected" these funds using the association's name and did not deposit them into official accounts, stating the board never approved the agreement.
Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing's office announced the deportation on X, citing "bilateral friendly relations" between Myanmar and the U.S. State-run MRTV television echoed this, stating the move was "in consideration of the friendly relations." The official statement from Myanmar noted that legal proceedings against Castillo began on June 8, 2026, under Section 409 of the Penal Code, following violations of AmCham Myanmar's rules and restrictions, but did not clarify if he was brought to trial or if charges were dismissed.
Castillo's sister, Amanda Castillo, expressed mixed emotions about his return, noting his hopes for improved U.S./Myanmar relations and his respect for the Burmese people. Castillo, who authored a book critical of U.S. sanctions on Myanmar, had lobbied in Washington for U.S. access to Myanmar's rare earth minerals in exchange for sanctions relief. The $300,000 for Mercury LLC were reportedly paid directly by Misfit Technologies' U.S. office due to sanctions and Burmese regulations.
