SOUTH HILL, VA — According to news reports, International Veneer Co. will plead guilty on March 1 in U.S. District Court to charges that the South Hill, VA-based company smuggled $2.6 million of veneer to Syria over a four-year period.
The Virginian-Pilot (PilotOnline.com) reports that International Veneer “is accused of smuggling around 700 pallets of wood veneer sheets and three forklifts” to the Arab country between 2007 and March 2011. The article states that International Veneer also has been accused of “trying to smuggle 17 pallets of wood veneer to Iran in April 2010.”
Both countries are embargoed for trade, and listed on the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security/U.S. Department of Commerce website. According to news sources, the veneer company could face up to $2.6 million in penalties.
According to its website, IVC operates multiple shifts of four vertical slicers and a half-round machine daily, producing veneers from a variety of North American and exotic species, including clipped, unclipped burl and crotch veneers. In addition, the company has partnerships with International Timber and Veneer in Mercer, PA; IVC Architectural in Jeffersonville, IN; IVC Canada and IVC Europe/R. Ulrich and Co. GmbH.
Karen M. Koenig has more than 25 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As Editor-in-Chief of Wood & Wood Products, Karen’s primary responsibilities include spearheading the writing, editing and coordinating of the editorial content of the publication, along with the Red Book resource guide and the Red Book online source and supply directory (
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