Federal authorities have charged two Chinese nationals with smuggling a hazardous fungus into the United States in a case that has raised questions about agricultural security and international academic research. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are facing charges of conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud.
The fungus involved, Fusarium graminearum, is known to cause head blight in major crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and rice. It not only threatens food supply chains but also produces toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals, causing symptoms including vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive complications. The Department of Justice said the pathogen has been documented in scientific studies as a potential tool for agricultural disruption.
Liu allegedly attempted to smuggle the fungus into the U.S. through Detroit Metropolitan Airport by concealing it in his backpack, while Jian is accused of earlier transporting it in her footwear. Both individuals are said to have coordinated over private messaging platforms, discussing techniques for hiding the samples.
Jian, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Michigan, and Liu, who works at a Chinese university, were allegedly planning to use laboratory space at the Ann Arbor campus for research on the fungus. Authorities say Jian received research funding from the Chinese government and had documents on her electronic devices referencing membership in the Chinese Communist Party. The University of Michigan stated it was unaware of any foreign funding tied to the research in question and is cooperating fully with the investigation.
In addition to the materials seized at the airport, officials say a separate attempt to send more samples was intercepted when a package from China containing infected plant material hidden inside a textbook was flagged and confiscated.
Federal investigators from the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaborated on the case, which they describe as a complex operation. Cheyvoryea Gibson, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge in Detroit, stated that the individuals allegedly tried to exploit their access to academic resources in order to introduce harmful biological material into the country.
The university has emphasized its commitment to research ethics and public safety. In a formal statement, it reiterated that it does not condone actions that put community health or academic integrity at risk.
A court appearance was scheduled for Jian in Detroit, while the case against both individuals is ongoing. Authorities emphasized that a criminal complaint does not constitute a conviction, and a full legal process will follow.
This case arrives amid already strained relations between Washington and Beijing, and follows another recent charge involving a Chinese student at the same university accused of unlawfully voting in the 2024 election.
Federal officials have described the attempted importation of the pathogen as a matter that demands careful oversight due to its possible impact on agriculture and food systems.
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