MAWLAMYINE, Myanmar — Members of Myanmar’s security forces and government officials are being accused of exploiting a national energy crisis to run lucrative black-market fuel operations, despite official directives from the military leadership to crack down on illegal sales.
As the country reels from severe fuel shortages exacerbated by regional instability, the sham government has introduced a priority system, allowing military, police, and civil service personnel to bypass the long queues that have paralyzed Myanmar’s major cities. However, sources on the ground allege that this privilege is being systematically abused for personal profit.
A petrol station worker in Mawlamyine, Mon State, told MPA that officials frequently use their status to extract more fuel than required for official duties.
“They come in at any time, claiming they need a full tank for an official trip, and coordinate with managers to adjust the vouchers,” the employee said. “In reality, much of this fuel is being channeled directly into the black market, while ordinary citizens—who are restricted by rationing and QR codes—are left without.”
In some cases, the exploitation is even more direct. At the Sabai Gu Bridge checkpoint in Kyaikmaraw Township, soldiers have reportedly been confiscating fuel from small-scale businessmen under the pretext of security. “They seized three gallons of fuel from a local worker despite him having the proper permits,” a resident shared. “Later, the same soldiers were found selling that fuel in nearby villages for 17,000 Kyat per liter—nearly five times the official rate.”
While the official price for 95-octane fuel in Mon State is set at approximately 3,995 Kyat per liter, the scarcity has driven black-market prices to between 15,000 and 20,000 Kyat.
The military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, issued a directive on March 24, 2026, calling for strict action against “unscrupulous” fuel traders. Since then, several private station owners and managers in Mawlamyine have been arrested for allegedly selling fuel in bulk without permission.
However, local business owners argue that the crackdown is selective and ignores the rampant corruption within the regime’s own ranks. “They arrest private owners but let their own administrators and soldiers run the shadow market,” an entrepreneur in Mawlamyine noted. “The mismanagement and hypocrisy are what’s truly killing the economy.”
The fuel crisis has now reached a critical point, affecting everything from agriculture and manufacturing to the tourism and transportation sectors. For many small-scale industries, the combination of state-enforced rationing and state-facilitated black markets has made continued operation impossible, threatening a total standstill of essential services across the country.
