Two Chinese nationals have been formally charged with conspiring to smuggle a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States, allegedly for use in scientific research at the University of Michigan, federal authorities announced Tuesday.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 33-year-old Yunqing Jian and her 34-year-old boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, are accused of unlawfully importing Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that can pose a threat to both agricultural and human health.
Federal prosecutors allege that the couple intended to use the fungus for unauthorized research in a laboratory setting at the University of Michigan, where Jian is employed as a postdoctoral fellow in the Shan Lab, specializing in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology.
Agroterrorism Concerns
The pathogen in question, Fusarium graminearum, is known for infecting cereal crops such as wheat and barley. The fungus produces mycotoxins that not only result in massive crop losses—estimated at billions of dollars globally—but can also cause serious health issues in humans and livestock, including vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive complications.
Federal officials have labeled the pathogen a potential agroterrorism agent due to its destructive capabilities and ease of spread through contaminated grains.
“This is not just a case of academic misconduct. The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals — including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party — are of the gravest national security concerns,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. “Bringing a harmful biological agent into the U.S. without oversight, and under false pretenses, is a dangerous breach of federal law.”
Smuggling Allegations
The investigation revealed that Liu, who conducts similar research at a university in China, entered the U.S. through Detroit Metropolitan Airport, allegedly carrying vials of the fungus. Initially, he denied knowledge of the material, but later admitted he intended to bring it to the University of Michigan for use in Jian’s lab.
The Department of Justice charged both Liu and Jian with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud. Jian is also suspected of having smuggled similar biological materials into the U.S. on previous occasions, although those incidents are still under investigation.
The FBI stated that Jian had received research funding from the Chinese government and had expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Investigators believe her academic position in the U.S. may have provided cover for unsanctioned research potentially aligned with Chinese government interests.
University and Federal Response
University of Michigan officials said they were unaware of any illicit research being conducted at the Shan Lab and condemned any activities that compromise U.S. national security. “We are fully cooperating with federal investigators and have found no evidence that this research received funding from the Chinese government,” a university spokesperson said in a statement.
CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon emphasized the seriousness of the case: “Today’s charges underscore the essential role that CBP and our law enforcement partners play in safeguarding the United States from biological threats. The deliberate smuggling of a dangerous fungus into the country by a university-affiliated researcher is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities we must constantly guard against.”
The FBI’s Detroit field office continues to investigate the case, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges or co-conspirators.
