The junta confiscated approximately 60,000 gallons (approximately 272,765 litres) of fuel and arrested 17 people for illegally transporting fuel to areas of Kachin and northern Shan states and Sagaing Region.

The junta made the seizure and arrests at its Kantalu checkpoint in Nyaungpinzin Village in Sagaing Township in Sagaing Region, according to a 2 January junta statement.

The statement said that the 17 people were arrested for attempting to transport fuel to areas controlled or heavily influenced by ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) or resistance forces.

It accused them of attempting to ship fuel to gold and jade mining operations, as well as other gemstone mining sites in Hpakant and Danai towns in Kachin State, Kawlin Township in Sagaing Region, and areas controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and other resistance groups.

It also said that the 17 arrested will face charges under Section 5 of the Essential Supplies and Services Act.

A Hpakant resident said the junta's attempt to cut off fuel deliveries to areas where the resistance is strong has had little impact on the armed groups and only causes harm to the civilian population in those areas.

He said to KNG: “The junta's fuel ban has had no real impact on the resistance fighters. Instead, it is the public who are bearing the brunt, particularly business owners who depend on fuel. The disruption of local businesses ultimately affects the entire community. In the end, it is the people who are truly suffering from the junta's fuel shipment bans.”

According to a  member of the Sagaing People’s Defence Force (PDF), though the junta has banned fuel deliveries to many townships in Sagaing Region, locals are still managing to import and distribute fuel in those areas, through various means.

He said: “We've heard that the junta is tracking and seizing fuel tankers, with some being released only after owners paid a ransom. Currently, fuel transportation to Sagaing Region is mainly carried out by locals. They buy directly from fuel traders, with no ties to the junta, and deliver it to anyone who can afford to pay for the fuel.”

On 17 November 2024 the junta gave the Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA) a list of townships which no longer had any fuel allocations, effectively banning any fuel deliveries to those townships.

The townships on that list to which all fuel deliveries are banned include all of Kachin State except Myitkyina City; all of Arakan (Rakhine) and Chin states; 25 of Sagaing Region’s 34 townships; Mogok and Myingyan townships in Mandalay Region and Pauk Town in Magway Region.