“`html
An investigation by Amnesty International has revealed the continued entry of aviation fuel, critical to the Myanmar military’s operations during the ongoing civil war, into the country via “ghost ships.” This subterfuge persists despite international sanctions, according to the human rights organization. Detailed findings indicate that at least nine separate consignments of aviation fuel were transported into Myanmar between 2024 and 2025, as reported by Amnesty.
The report highlights significant changes in the methods employed to import these fuels. Central to these operations are the ghost ships — vessels that deactivate their tracking systems, effectively going “dark,” while conducting loading and unloading activities. This practice includes broadcasting deceptive positional data, otherwise known as “spoofing,” and altering vessel names, flags, or ownership information to further obscure their activities. Frequently, these ships engage in ship-to-ship transfers on open water rather than using standard ports or terminals.
Such tactics enable Myanmar’s military to obfuscate the identity of the suppliers that provide the aviation fuel powering air raids against civilian populations. Despite sanctions designed to prevent fuel imports, data from the Myanmar Port Authority indicates a substantial increase in imports, with at least 109,604 metric tons of aviation fuel entering the country in 2025, marking a 69% increase from the previous year — the highest recorded since the coup in 2021.
According to Amnesty, the military heavily relies on these fuel imports, which are indispensable for powering combat aircraft engaged in aerial assaults against civilians. Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s regional research director, emphasized the urgency of international action, urging nations and global leaders to mitigate the supply chain’s rogue operations. “Every day of inaction will cost more lives,” Ferrer stated.
The investigation also identified four vessels implicated in the importation of fuel since 2024: HUITONG 78, YONG SHENG 56, REEF, and NOBLE. While direct evidence of the fuel’s origin or suppliers remains inconclusive, limited indications suggest possible connections to Iran.
The conflict in Myanmar has escalated in severity, with aerial attacks resulting in more civilian casualties over the past year than any other since the onset of the conflict. A United Nations report released in September 2025 recorded at least 6,764 civilian deaths since the coup in 2021, with nearly half resulting from air attacks between April 2024 and May 2025, as detailed in a UN report.
“`