Gibson Guitar Coporation Releases Statement Following Raid In Nashville And Memphis

Raided

GIBSON GUITAR has released a statement following a raid of their offices in NASHVILLE and MEMPHIS YESTERDAY (8/24) by the U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE and the U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION agents (NET NEWS 8/24).

GIBSON statement reads, “The FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE in WASHINGTON, D.C. has suggested that the use of wood from INDIA that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because it is the JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’s interpretation of a law in INDIA. If the same wood from the same tree was finished by Indian workers, the material would be legal. This action was taken without the support and consent of the government in INDIA.”

During the raid several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars were seized. GIBSON ceased its manufacturing operations and send workers home for the day and said they have fully cooperated with the execution of the search warrants.

GIBSON was also raided in 2009 but no charges have been filed at this time. GIBSON said in the statement that it “has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of any wrong doing. We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.”

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