Rosewood has long been central to guitar manufacturing, particularly for acoustic bodies and fingerboards and in these times of controlled logging, has achieved prices of around £3,000 per cubic metre. As a result of this, the wood – and particularly that of Madagascar – has been linked to black market activity.

More importantly, as the Nashville Post pointed out, 'Madagascar has struggled financially since a January coup and new President Andry Rajoelina issued an executive order in September legalising the export of rosewood and ebony. The move was decried by environmental groups and political leaders worldwide, as hardwood forests are key to Madagascar's unique ecology and serve as a habitat for a dwindling lemur population.'

This Madagascan legalisation might well place some doubt over the investigation as the Lacey Act states that it is 'unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any plant in violation of the laws of the United States, a State, an Indian tribe, or any foreign law that protects plants'.

The Nashville Post report added that Gibson has been involved in a scheme that saw wood shipped from Madagascar to Germany and from there on to the United States.