Last year, authorities in Vietnam indicted a total of 22 defendants for the crimes of smuggling, bribes, fraud and the abuse of public power related to the illegal trade of approximately $71 million worth of timber from January 2021 to January 2024. This case included 13,376 containers of wood veneers made from acacia, eucalyptus, rubberwood […]
In another major win for Myanmar’s forests, a penalty order of €150,000 has been issued against a Dutch firm for using illicit Myanmar teak on Jeff Bezos’ superyacht Koru. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie OM) has confirmed it reached a settlement agreement with a “Dutch yacht builder” — named as Oceanco by Dutch newspaper […]
In a landmark case in the UK courts, a luxury yacht firm has been handed stiff penalties for using ‘blood’ teak imported from Myanmar on some of the vessels it builds. Sunseeker International Ltd – self-styled as “the world’s leading brand for luxury motor yachts” – is based in Poole, Dorset. Sitting at Bournemouth Crown […]
LONDON: In a landmark case in the UK courts, a luxury yacht firm has been handed stiff penalties for using ‘blood’ teak imported from Myanmar on some of the vessels it builds. Sunseeker International Ltd – self-styled as “the world’s leading brand for luxury motor yachts” – is based in Poole, Dorset. Sitting at Bournemouth […]
A new ruling by the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) may partially undo earlier criminal convictions for importing teak from Myanmar in defiance of a previous EU sanctions regime. In April 2021, Hamburg Regional Court’s convicted WOB Timber and Stefan Bührich for imports of Myanmar teak contrary to the previous EU sanctions regime implemented against […]
Today (21 June 2024) marks exactly three years since the EU joined the US in introducing measures to prevent Myanmar teak from reaching their markets. Yet, millions of euros worth of shipments of the timber have since entered both countries. Why is this still happening?