Chinese nationals charged with smuggling fungus into Michigan
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — In Detroit, two people were charged with allegedly smuggling a fungus into America, claiming it was for studying at the University of Michigan, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan.
United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. reports that Yunqing Juan, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People's Republic of China, were charged with a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud.
According to the complaint, Liu initially lied but later admitted to smuggling the fungus into America through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport so that he could conduct research with his girlfriend at a laboratory at the University of Michigan.
The fungus called Fusarium graminearum is the most significant and destructive disease affecting wheat crops all over the world, according to the National Library of Medicine. The scientific literature classifies it as a potential agroterrorism weapon.
According to the FBI, the complaint reports Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. The complaint also alleges that Jian's electronics have information about her loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Jian's boyfriend, Liu, researches the same pathogen at a Chinese University.
'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,' said United States Attorney Gorgon.
'Today's criminal charges levied upon Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are indicative of CBP's critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate our agricultural economy and cause harm to humans; especially when it involves a researcher from a major university attempting to clandestinely bring potentially harmful biological materials into the United States. 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,' said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon.
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This case is still under investigation, United States Attorney Gorgon reports.
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And that many of them will want to stay and work for Google and Amazon and ChatGPT, and they'll make our country stronger, and some of them will go on to found tech companies that will employ Americans. I think it would be a major mistake to close the doors. Yes, we have to screen out the bad actors, but we're doing that, and that would be the difference I have with the Trump administration on this issue of Chinese students.
