Nashville, TN (November 17, 2009) – Agents with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Nashville police conducted a raid at
Gibson's corporate headquarters and one of its Nashville manufacturing facilities this afternoon. Various news agencies report a number of guitars, computers, files and wood used in the manufacture of the company’s guitars were seized.
According to the Nashville Post, the raid was conducted by a combination of federal agents and local police who are investigating the company for violating the Lacey Act, an environment law that makes it illegal to import endangered species of rosewood from Madagascar. As of this posting, it is not clear which
Gibson manufacturing facility was the target of the raid—either
Gibson USA or
Gibson Custom. Both facilities are approximately one mile from each other in a warehouse district just south of downtown Nashville.
On its website, the Nashville Post is citing “sources” that have indicated
Gibson was “…involved in a scheme that shipped the wood from Madagascar to Germany and then to the United States.” The Nashville Post report also states that charges against the company have yet to be filed.
Premier Guitar obtained the following statement directly from
Gibson:
“Today
Gibson Guitar is fully cooperating with agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service as it pertains to an issue with harvested wood.
Gibson is a chain of custody certified buyer who purchases wood from legal suppliers who are to follow all standards.
Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO sits on the board of the Rainforest Alliance and takes the issue of certification very seriously. The company will continue to cooperate fully and assist our federal government with all inquiries and information.”
Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could not be reached for comment.