Here is the story in English as taken from a notice that was posted in Spain by their Civil Guard...

The Civil Guard through the Service of Protection of the Nature has taken part more than 33 tons of wood pertaining to the species "Dalbergia Nigra" (Palosanto de Ri'o), which is including in Appendix I of protection of species threatened of extinction of the Agreement on the international trade of threatened species of wild flora and fauna (CHALLENGES).

The Operation "Wood" within the framework had its origin of the different services that the Command of the Civil Guard of Madrid maintains assets with the purpose of avoiding the possible contraband of species protected by the international treaties, and whose origin, in this case, is centered in the tropical zones of South America.

From 1992 the commerce of this arboreal species is prohibited, since given the extinction danger in which is the Palosanto de Ri'o, was including in Appendix I of the agreement CHALLENGES, enjoying the Maxima protection. The commerce, exhibition, buy or sale, is prohibited totally from the year arrives indicated.

At the moment for including the mentioned species in the Maxima international protection, one was stored an important amount of this wood in companies of elaboration of different effects, reason why a census of the same ones was elaborated in which the exact amount of raw material of Palosanto was included which they arranged, and that yes they could always commercialize accompanied of the corresponding certificate CHALLENGES.

The "Dalbergia Nigra", more well-known like Palosanto de Ri'o or Palisandro de Ri'o, is destined mainly for the elaboration of musical instruments of different type, emphasizing on all those of cord.

Within the framework of inspection that develops them the SEPRONA, could be found out the existence of numerous countable misalignments between the wood that declared to have or to commercialize certain lumber companies, and the existence declared and seated in its warehouses, reason why in December of 2,002 an important operation began in which it was tried to in the open put to the possible people in charge of the illicit introduction and traffic of "dalbergia nigra" in Spain.

The operative one has been developed in the provinces of Madrid, River basin, Granada and Valencia, where the Civil Guard has made inspection in 21 companies and establishments dedicated to the elaboration and sale of musical instruments, being the taken part total:

- More than 33 tons of Palosanto de Ri'o (dalbergia nigra).

- 2,168 games of bottom.

- 2,573 games of hoops for classic guitar.

- 983 cleaning rods.

- 2,625 bridges of guitar.

- 300 woods.

- 46 games of bandurria.

- 12 m3 of piecerA­o.

- 25 guitars.

In the development of the operation Wood they have been implied, until the moment, 6 people like presumed authors of a continued contraband crime and a crime relative to the protection of the flora and fauna, emphasizing as one of them had different participation in three companies incursas in the investigation

The investigating Agents have disarticulated with this operative one of the greater networks of import, elaboration and distribution of Palosanto de Ri'o.

MODUS OPERANDI

The wood after leaving its place of origin in Brazil arrived at Spain, where three important companies dedicated to the lumber manufactures, received the shipment and distributed this one to their clients, some of settled down them in the provinces of Madrid, River basin, Granada and Valencia, as well as in third countries like the United States, Germany, Japan or Canada.

People in charge of these companies, presumably, supplied wood to price inferior to the one of market, whenever the buyer did not ask for the documentation CHALLENGES that its legality protected, being the very superior price if they asked for these authorizations.

The presumed people in charge of this plot, sent to their clients invoices in which they denominated to the Dalbergia Nigra with nomenclatures such to "Pitomba", "Caviuna", "Jacaranda", etc..., species these, that they do not require of those permissions when not being in extinction danger.

The inspected warehouses maintained the "wood protected" mixed with other species of similar appearance, for this way, to make difficult to their identification to the Inspectors and Agents of the SEPRONA, which has resorted to microscopic analyses and of DNA to confirm their nature.

In order to be able to quantify the wood that was stored and mixed with other species, thus to have the correct identification of the Palosanto de Ri'o, one has resorted to the most advanced analyses, counting for it with the collaboration of the Laboratory of Technology of the wood of the E.T.S. of Mount Engineers of the Polytechnical University of Madrid and the Laboratory of the collection of weaves and DNA of the National Museum of Natural Sciences.

Images of the operation to disposition of the means that wish it, for their request exist contact with the Office of Informative and Social Relations of the Main directorate of the Civil Guard, on telephone 91.514.60.10.

For more information, they can contact with the cabinet of press of the Command of the Civil Guard of Madrid.

The original in spanish also contains pictures of the seized wood at the bottom of the page

  http://www.guardiacivil.es/prensa/notas/noticia.jsp?idnotici a=1608

[QUOTE=martinedwards] [QUOTE=Dave Rickard] Simple solution; only buy from an OLF sponser[/QUOTE]

so the OLF check the entire stock of every supplier and ensure that they have CITES paperwork for every matchstich sized piece up?

just stop using endangered species.

YOU are driving the illegal market if you buy the legal stuff.

Would the crooks bother if no-one bought it?[/QUOTE]

Right you are

Joel,

I believe that LMI actually stopped selling BRW a while ago for the very reason that even they could not determine its legality. Martin (to their credit) will noy buy any wood unless it has proper credentials and even their supplier in Spain was raided a few years ago.

Personally I want to have my guitars be about excellent craftsmanship, and design (of course sound....) as opposed to relying on the last scraps of rare wood.

BTW I've sent you a PM

Best!