Gibson Guitars Part of Federal Investigation Into Illegally Harvested Wood
Federal authorities are continuing an investigation to determine if Gibson Guitars, a Nashville-based instrument manufacturing
company, has purchased wood that was illegally harvested from the rainforests of Madagascar. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
agents served a search warrant Tuesday (Nov. 17) at Gibson's factory which constructs electric and acoustic guitars. Under
the U.S. Lacey Act, trading in banned woods is punishable by civil and criminal penalties or the seizure of property. No arrests
have been made or formal charges filed in the case. Gibson officials say they purchase wood "from legal suppliers who are
to follow all standards," and that they are fully cooperating with the investigation.
