The federal authorities that searched Lumber Liquidators' corporate headquarters in Toano, Va., and a location in Richmond, Va., Thursday may have been looking for emails or documents indicating the company imported illegal wood harvested from Siberian tiger habitat in Russia, a man who asked to have his identity concealed told NBC 12 News (WWBT).
The federal authorities that searched Lumber Liquidators' corporate headquarters in Toano, Va., and a location in Richmond, Va., Thursday may have been looking for emails or documents indicating the company imported illegal wood harvested from Siberian tiger habitat in Russia, a man who asked to have his identity concealed told NBC 12 News (WWBT).
The source, who asked to be called "Eric," said he found Homeland Security's operation plan in a Target parking lot in Richmond, which was supposed to be the staging area for the raid on the Richmond location. Eric told NBC 12 that he doesn't plan on doing anything more with the papers. NBC 12 says Homeland Security refuses to comment on the lost file and will only confirm the raid happened.
There is only one habitat for the remaining 500-or-fewer wild Siberian tigers. According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, a London-based non-profit, the type of wood in question can be harvested legally around the world, including in the U.S.
"Foresters around America are having a hard time competing internationally," Alexander von Bismarck, the executive director for the Environmental Investigation Agency in Washington, D.C., told NBC 12. "The fact that it's legal and sustainable is not valued enough."
Lumber Liquidators has not been charged with anything at this time.
