Two Chinese nationals have been accused of smuggling a fungus into the US that officials describe as a "dangerous biological pathogen".
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods, false statements, and visa fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced on Tuesday.
The complaint alleges Mr Liu tried to smuggle the fungus through Detroit airport so he could study it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Ms Jian, worked.
The fungus called Fusarium graminearum can cause a disease in wheat, barley, maize and rice that can wipe out crops and lead to vomiting and liver damage if it gets into food.
The fungus is described in scientific literature as a "potential agroterrorism weapon", according to the US Attorney's Office, adding it is responsible for "billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year."
Officials further allege Ms Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen in China. They also claim she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
United States Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr described the allegations as of the "gravest national security concerns".
"These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into in the [sic] heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme."
The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and US Customs and Border Protection.
Ms Jian is due to appear in court in Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday.
The University of Michigan said in a statement to the BBC that it "has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals".
University officials are cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation and they "strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission", according to the statement.
Spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington DC Liu Pengyu told the BBC that he is not familiar with this specific case, but emphasized that Beijing "has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests".
The charges come amid strained relations between the US and China, and just days after the Trump administration vowed to "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese nationals studying in the US.
Two Chinese nationals have been accused of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen to the United States for research. Per Reuters, the pathogen held possibilities of being used as an agricultural terrorism weapon.
The pathogen has been identified as Fusarium graminearum. The US Department of Justice said that it was classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon. The fungus can cause “head blight” in crops and is responsible for large scale economic losses amounting to billions, each year.
Fusarium graminearum's toxins also cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.
According to an FBI criminal complaint, Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024. Liu admitted that he smuggled the pathogen in the United States to conduct research at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend worked. Electronic communications between the two confirmed their statements. They have been accused of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements and visa fraud.
Jian also received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. Her electronics also contain information linking her to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the pair's actions "posed an imminent threat to public safety."
In the release, US Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr stated, "The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals--including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party--are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme."
FBI Director Kash Patel also spoke about the incident and said that it is a “sobering reminder” that the Chinese Communist Party is working to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target the food supply in the US.
The investigation had been a joint undertaking by the FBI and US Customs and Border Protection.
This incident comes amid strained relations between the US and China, especially days after the Trump administration vowed to "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese students and researchers in the US.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said in a statement that students affected would include "those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." The US will also enhance scrutiny "of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong," he added.
Two Chinese scientists have been charged with allegedly smuggling a toxic fungus into the United States that they planned to research at an American university, the Justice Department said Tuesday.
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are charged with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a statement.
Jian is in US custody while Liu’s whereabouts are unknown.
The Justice Department said the pair conspired to smuggle a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the United States that causes “head blight,” a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice.
The fungus is classified in scientific literature as a “potential agroterrorism weapon,” it said, and causes billions of dollars in losses each year.
It causes vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock, it said.
According to the complaint, Jian and Liu, her boyfriend, had both previously conducted work on the fungus in China.
“(Liu) first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America… so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked,” the Justice Department said.
US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr described the smuggling of the fungus into the United States as a “national security” concern and emphasized Jian’s membership in the Chinese Communist Party.
“These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme,” Gorgon said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed last week to “aggressively revoke visas” for Chinese students, a move condemned by Beijing as “unreasonable” and “discriminatory.”
Kseniia Petrova, a scientist from Russia at Harvard, is facing potential deportation after she failed to declare biological samples in her luggage upon returning from a trip to Paris.
Two Chinese nationals are accused of smuggling a "potential agroterrorism weapon" via a noxious fungus into the U.S., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, both citizens of the People's Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, officials said in a complaint unsealed Tuesday.
Jian worked at the University of Michigan, according to officials. Her boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university.
The investigation is a joint effort of the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals— including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns," U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said in his statement. "These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme."
The district attorney's office was supported in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The FBI arrested Jian in connection with smuggling activity into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon.
Officials said the "noxious fungus causes 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock."
According to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China.
The complaint also alleges that Jian's electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. It is further alleged that Jian's boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum through Detroit Metropolitan Airport so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where Jian worked.
"This was a complex investigation involving CBP offices from across the country, alongside our federal partners. I'm grateful for their tireless efforts, ensuring our borders remain secure from all types of threats while safeguarding America's national security interests," Raybon said.
The university issued the following statement on the alleged incident:
As one of the world's leading public research institutions, the University of Michigan is dedicated to advancing knowledge, solving challenging problems and improving nearly every facet of the human experience. Our research enterprise across all three campuses is united in this commitment to serving the people of Michigan and the world.
We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission. It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals. We have and will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.
It is the second time in a week that a Chinese national with ties to the University of Michigan has been charged in a federal investigation. Last week, a Chinese national who was attending the Ann Arbor-based university, was charged with illegally voting in the November 2024 election.
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