Luxury Yacht Maker Pleads Guilty to Lacey Act Violations Over Illegal Burmese Teak

MIAMI (LN) — Luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker International Limited and its U.S. subsidiary pleaded guilty Wednesday to two Lacey Act violations for importing multimillion-dollar vessels containing illegally harvested Burmese teak, agreeing to pay a $0.20 million fine and implement a compliance plan.

The Justice Department announced the guilty plea by Sunseeker International Limited and Sunseeker USA Sales Co. Inc. on Wednesday.

Sunseeker, which manufactures luxury performance motor yachts and superyachts in the United Kingdom, admitted to using Burmese teak on yachts imported into the United States, including a teak balcony door and teak parts incorporated into two yachts priced at approximately $2.98 million and $1.07 million, respectively.

The teak used came from the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE), the sole authorized seller of export teak harvested in Myanmar. Both the U.S. and the U.K. have imposed sanctions against Myanmar, and U.S. sanctions prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or those transiting the U.S. that involve any property or interest in property associated with the MTE.

The illegal logging of teak in Myanmar has been a known problem since at least 2017, with the U.K. concluding that timber harvesting, specifically teak, has financially supported dictatorships in Myanmar.

Sunseeker was previously charged in the U.K. and pleaded guilty in 2023 to three criminal violations of the U.K.’s Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR). The company was sentenced and fined approximately $0.45 million. The teak imports that Sunseeker imported into the U.S. came teak imports charged in the U.K. case.

“Congress amended the Lacey Act in 2008 to prohibit the importation of illegally harvested timber,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “By enforcing the law, we ensure a level playing field for companies that follow the law. Timber trafficking is the third most lucrative form of transnational crime, so enforcing the law keeps money from flowing into criminal enterprises.”

“South Florida is one of the world’s great gateways for luxury vessels, but our ports are not open to illegal goods,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Sunseeker admitted that illegally obtained Burmese teak was used on yachts imported into the United States. That matters. Trafficking in illegal timber, wildlife, and other protected natural resources harms legitimate businesses, supports corrupt supply chains, and turns the natural world into profit for criminal organizations. This guilty plea, fine, and compliance requirements are a direct step toward accountability.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case. Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

Sunseeker is set to be sentenced on Aug. 20.