Latest news with #biologicalsmuggling
Fox News
13-06-2025
- Fox News
Chinese bio-smuggling suspect cries in court over federal detention
Two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling biological materials into the United States appeared in court Friday as federal authorities fight to keep them detained in cases they say concern "national security." University of Michigan post-doctoral research fellow Yunqing Jian and Huazhong University of Science and Technology student Chengxuan Han were ordered to remain in federal custody as their separate cases remain ongoing. During the hearing, Han, who is accused of mailing packages containing biological materials to the University of Michigan's laboratory, became visibly emotional and was seen choking back tears when she learned her preliminary hearing had been pushed to a later date. In her brief detention hearing Friday, Han's attorney said her client is consenting to detention without prejudice and will remain in federal custody. "Ms. Han is presumed innocent, and we will await further proceedings to comment any further," her attorney previously said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Han's preliminary hearing was initially set for June 23, but was subsequently rescheduled for June 30. Both Han and Jian will remain in federal custody until their next hearings. Jian and her boyfriend, Chinese researcher Zunyong Liu, were charged this month after they first attempted to transport Fusarium graminearum, a "potential agroterrorism weapon" that can inflict dangerous health effects on humans, into the country in August 2022, prosecutors said. "The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns," interm U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jerome Gorgon said in a 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." Han was also arrested in June after allegedly mailing four packages containing undeclared biological material to individuals working in the University of Michigan's laboratory from September 2024 to March 2025, according to the criminal complaint. In the case of Jian and Liu, a WeChat conversation allegedly revealed the couple brainstorming ways to transport the substance, with Jian ultimately deciding to stash the bags in her shoes. The fungus causes a "head blight," described as a disease of wheat, maize, rice and barley, and is responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses throughout the world each year, according to the Department of Justice. If ingested by humans, the substance can cause vomiting, liver damage and "reproductive defects in humans and livestock." Friday's detention hearing lasted approximately two minutes, with Jian appearing in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed around the waist. A federal judge adjourned the hearing until next Friday due to Jian's request to seek private counsel. According to the criminal complaint, Jian initially received Chinese government funding for her work on the pathogen while studying at the University of Michigan and allegedly lied on her student visa application regarding her education plans in the U.S. Prosecutors allege Jian first attempted to smuggle the fungus into the U.S. in 2022, with one instance of her asking a third party to send her Fusarium graminearum in January 2024. Jian's attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "There are usually no problems," Jian said in a message to the third person. "Rest assured. I have mailed these before." The most recent smuggling attempt allegedly occurred in July 2024, when Liu arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to visit Jian, according to authorities. Upon landing, Liu was flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and subsequently searched. Authorities allegedly discovered "a wad of tissues crumpled up in a small pocket in Liu's backpack," according to the affidavit. "The tissues concealed a note in Chinese, a round piece of filter paper with a series of circles drawn on it, and four clear plastic baggies with small clumps of reddish plant material inside," the affidavit said. The filter paper was sent for testing by the FBI, which revealed it contained Fusarium graminearum, according to authorities. The plastic baggies also allegedly carried material that was contaminated by the fungus, authorities said. "In addition, the laboratory identified 10 separate samples from the filter paper," the affidavit said. "Each sample had a hand drawn circle around it, and each circle was labeled with a code containing letters and/or numbers. The sample labeled '06172' was identified by the FBI laboratory to contain the DNA sequence for Fusarium graminearum." Liu allegedly denied carrying the pathogen, but later admitted to bringing it to the U.S. intentionally, officials said. He allegedly told authorities the pair planned to use the university's laboratory to conduct research. "These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety," Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said in a statement. Both Jian and Liu are charged with conspiracy, making false statements, visa fraud and smuggling goods into the U.S. "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," the university previously said in a statement. "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." Han also made an appearance in federal court Friday. She is charged with smuggling goods into the U.S. and making false statements, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Authorities allege Han, a Ph.D. student at Wuhan's College of Life Science and Technology in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, mailed four packages containing undeclared biological materials to staff members at the University of Michigan's laboratory. Han was arrested on Sunday while traveling to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Shanghai on a J1 visa. Upon her arrival, Han was searched by CBP officers, and subsequently confronted about the packages. According to the criminal complaint, Han allegedly denied mailing the packages, but later admitted she had sent them after being pressed by authorities. Han initially told CBP officers the packages only contained plastic cups – not petri dishes – and a book, according to court documents. Han allegedly confessed to sending the packages, which contained roundworm-related biomaterials, telling FBI and Homeland Security officials that she had initially lied to CBP agents. Officers also discovered Han's electronic devices had been wiped of their content three days before her arrival in the U.S. "The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China – to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory – is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security," Gorgon said in a statement. "The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions."
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- Washington Post
2 Chinese scientists will stay in jail while accused of bringing biological material to US
DETROIT — Two Chinese scientists accused of smuggling or shipping biological material into the United States for use at the University of Michigan will remain in custody after waiving their right to a hearing Friday in federal court. Yunqing Jian and Chengxuan Han said in separate court appearances in Detroit that they would not challenge the government's request to keep them locked up while their cases move forward.
South China Morning Post
13-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Chinese scholars accused of smuggling biological material into US agree to stay in jail
Two University of Michigan scholars from China accused of smuggling biological material into the US agreed on Friday to be jailed without bond while their criminal cases are pending in federal court. Advertisement The decision by Han Chengxuan and Jian Yunqing came amid concerns that the Chinese nationals would flee the US if released on bond while facing criminal charges. That concern has increased in the two weeks since prosecutors charged another Chinese national studying at UM, 19-year-old Haoxiang Gao, with fleeing the US in January to avoid prosecution despite surrendering his Chinese passport and obtaining a second travel document. Gao is accused of voting illegally in the 2024 election. Han, Jian and Gao are among four Chinese nationals with ties to UM charged with federal crimes in the last two weeks. The criminal cases were filed amid plans by the Trump administration to revoke Chinese student visas nationwide, and the arrests have raised concerns about whether Chinese nationals are part of a campaign by the Chinese government to terrorise the US agricultural industry and meddle in elections. Advertisement A handcuffed Han, 28, wearing an orange Sanilac County Jail uniform, her ankles restrained by chains, said nothing beyond answering basic questions routed through a Mandarin translator.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Third Chinese scientist accused of covertly smuggling pathogen into US
A third Chinese scientist has been charged with smuggling biological materials into the United States after a University of Michigan student and her boyfriend were caught last week. Chengxuan Han was arrested on Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan airport and charged with smuggling goods into the US. Police allege Han sent four packages which 'contained biological material related to round worms' from China to the US. The packages were sent between September 2024 and March 2025 and addressed to people linked to the laboratory at the University of Michigan. Han initially denied sending the packages at all, according to court documents. She later insisted they contained plastic cups, rather than petri dishes. According to the documents, she ultimately admitted sending the samples, which she had collected during her research as a Ph.D. student in Wuhan, China. The charges come less than a week after University of Michigan postdoctoral fellow Yunqing Jian (pictured), 33, was charged alongside Zunyong Liu, 34, for attempting to smuggle a weapon of 'agroterrorism' into the United States in a sinister plot allegedly tied to the Chinese Communist Party. Liu arrived in the United States from China in July 2024 carrying four small baggies of Fusarium graminearum - a product responsible for causing billions of dollars worth of damage to livestock, wheat, barley, maize and rice globally each year. All three of the accused have links to the same university laboratory. Han was initially refused a visa to the US in March 2025, largely because she struggled to conduct her crucial visa interview in English, which is a requirement. She was unable to answer basic questions about herself or her research field. Two weeks later, Han applied again and during her second interview 'spoke credibly about her educational background, current studies, and post graduate plans.' Han is also accused of lying to border authorities who questioned her about the packages she had previously sent. When officers attempted to check her phone, they learned it had been wiped three days before she arrived, the court documents state. FBI boss Kash Patel issued a chilling warning following the initial arrest of Jian last week. 'This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply,' he said. If successful, the plot 'would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.' The duo have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud. In a horrifying twist, the criminal complaint reveals that Jian may have been successful in smuggling pathogens into the United States years earlier. The research student, who reportedly had pledged her loyalty to the CCP, had indicated in messages to Liu that she previously carried a pathogen her shoe on a trip to America in 2022. 'Electronic evidence also shows that Jian has been involved in smuggling packages of biological material into the United States on prior occasions,' the complaint stated. Separately, messages revealed she had arranged for another associate from China to mail her a book with a plastic baggie of the substance hidden inside in early 2024. The horrifying revelations raise questions about what Jian and Liu were hoping to achieve with the pathogen. The complaint also revealed that Jian had received funding from the Chinese government to conduct similar work on the same pathogen while she lived in China. Her boyfriend is employed at a Chinese university where he also studies Fusarium graminearum. The pair had 'discussed the shipping of biological materials and research being done in the laboratory' before he arrived in the United States. Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock if consumed. 'The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party, are of the gravest national security concerns,' US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said. In July 2024, Liu was turned away at the Detroit airport and sent back to China after changing his story during an interrogation about the red plant material discovered in his backpack, per the FBI. He initially claimed he knew nothing about the samples but later admitted he was planning to use the material for research at the lab, the complaint detailed. The FBI said authorities found a scientific article on Liu's phone that was titled, 'Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions.' A week before he arrived in the US, Liu exchanged messages with his partner, who said: 'It´s a pity that I still have to work for you,' according to investigators. FBI agents visited Jian at the campus lab in February, as she told them: '100% no,' when asked if she had been assisting Liu with the pathogen at the lab. But her text messages suggested she was in fact studying the product prior to her boyfriend's arrival in the country. The agency said it found a signed statement on her phone expressing her support for the Communist Party of China. The university does not have federal permits to handle Fusarium graminearum. In a statement, the University of Michigan said it did not receive 'funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals.' 'We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission.' Gorgon Jr. described the allegations against the 'two aliens' as the 'gravest national security concerns.' The US does not have an extradition treaty with China, meaning Liu's arrest is unlikely unless he returns. The charges come as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on international students on US campuses, vowing last week to begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students, including those studying in 'critical fields.' China is the second-largest country of origin for international students in the United States, behind only India. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 270,000 international students were from China, making up roughly a quarter of all foreign students in the United States. 'Under President Trump's leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields ,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Wuhan scientist arrested for smuggling toxic parasites into US
A Chinese scientist has been charged with smuggling toxic parasites into the United States. Chengxuan Han, a doctoral student at a university in Wuhan, China, is accused of shipping four separate packages of 'concealed biological material' to individuals associated with the University of Michigan in 2024 and 2025, according to the US attorney's office. Han is the third Chinese national to be arrested for smuggling potentially hazardous material into the university in the last week. She was stopped on June 8 after landing in Detroit, where she was questioned by border patrol officers. She initially lied to the officers about the packages, claiming that they contained plastic cups instead of petri dishes, but eventually she admitted to making 'false statements' and said the packages contained 'biological material related to roundworms', according to the US attorney's office. Roundworms are a type of parasite that can cause a number of illnesses in humans, including diarrhoea and nerve problems. The border officers also found that the contents of her electronic devices had been deleted three days before she arrived in the country. 'The FBI has zero tolerance for those who violate federal law and remains unwavering in our mission to protect the American people,' said Cheyvoryea Gibson, a special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit field office. 'The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation's research institutions.' Han is just the latest Chinese scientist to be accused of serious crimes related to smuggling biological material. On June 3, Yunqing Jian, a scientist at the University of Michigan, and Zunyong Liu, her boyfriend, were both charged with smuggling a toxic fungus for potential agroterrorism uses into the US. The FBI found that both Jian and Liu had done previous work on the same pathogen in China, and Jian had received money directly from the Chinese government for this research. There is so far no indication that Han is connected to the couple, but the common destination of the material does raise questions about the university. While the university has a top life science program, it has also been at the centre of previous controversies involving China. In 2023, five Chinese nationals, who were all undergraduate students at the university, were arrested for allegedly spying on military equipment at Camp Grayling, the US military training centre. The students were part of a joint program with China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and following the incident, the University of Michigan announced that it would be ending the partnership. The five were not arrested for espionage but were charged with lying and attempting to cover their tracks. Camp Grayling, the largest National Guard training facility in the US, is one of a few places known to be training Taiwanese troops. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, which the government in Taipei rejects, and has threatened to invade the island on multiple occasions. It is unclear why Jian, Liu, and now Han selected the University of Michigan, but according to court documents, Han had reportedly tried to enter the US on two separate occasions before her arrest, and she was denied entry both times. On one attempt, she apparently 'could not clearly answer basic questions about herself or her research'.
