Justice Department Accuses Two Chinese Researchers Of Smuggling ‘Potential Agroterrorism Weapon’ Into US
Federal prosecutors have accused two Chinese nationals of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen that could potentially be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon into the United States for research.
The Justice Department on Tuesday identified the pathogen as Fusarium graminearum, a fungus it said is classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon. In a statement, it said the fungus causes “late blight” in some crops and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year.
Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus to the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024, according to the FBI criminal complaint.
He admitted to smuggling the fungus so he could conduct research on it at a University of Michigan lab where his girlfriend works, the complaint said.
The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the complaint, an examination of electronic communications between the two showed they discussed shipping biological materials and research conducted at the lab before Liu arrived.
Jian and Liu are charged in the complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements and visa fraud. Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, said the pair’s actions “pose a direct threat to public safety.”
Jian is expected to appear in court in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday. A judge appointed a public defender, who could not immediately be reached for comment, to represent Jian.
Source: Investing.com
