Chinese nationals accused of smuggling fungi “agricultural terrorism weapons” to us

Two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling biomaterials to the U.S. appeared in court on Friday as federal authorities worked to detain them in a case where they said “national security.”

University of Michigan Postdoctoral research fellow Yunqing Jian and student Chengxuan Han of the Uate Science and Technology University were ordered to remain in federal custody as their separate cases are still underway.

During the hearing, Han was accused of mailing packages containing biological materials to a lab at the University of Michigan, and was obviously emotional and she was choked in tears when she learned that her initial hearing was pushed to a later date.

Han’s attorney said in a brief detention hearing Friday that her client agreed to detention without prejudice and would continue to be in federal custody.

Chinese experts say

“Ms. Han is considered innocent and we will await further litigation for further comment,” her attorney previously said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Han’s preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for June 23, but was subsequently rescheduled to June 30. Han and Jane will continue to be detained in federal custody until the next hearing.

Prosecutors said Ang Lee and her boyfriend, China researcher Zunyong Liu, were charged this month after her first attempt to transport fusarium graminearum, a “potential agricultural terrorism weapon” in August 2022.

“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including loyal members of the Chinese Communist Party, are the most serious national security concerns,” Jerome Gorgon, an American attorney in eastern Michigan, said in a statement. “The two aliens are accused of smuggling a fungus described as ‘potential’ Agricultural terror weapons“Entering the heart of the United States, they obviously intend to use the University of Michigan lab to further their plans.”

Han (Han Unidentified biological materials According to the criminal lawsuit, individuals working in the University of Michigan lab from September 2024 to March 2025.

In the case of Jian and Liu, a WeChat conversation allegedly revealed the couple’s mode of transportation, and Jian finally decided to hide the bag in her shoes.

According to the Justice Department, the fungus causes “head blight” and is described as a disease of wheat, corn, rice and barley that causes billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. If ingested by humans, the substance can cause vomiting, liver damage and “reproductive defects in humans and livestock.”

Friday Detention hearing It lasted for about two minutes, Jian appeared in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed around his waist. A federal judge adjourned the hearing until next Friday as Jane’s request required a private attorney.

According to the criminal complaint, Jaen initially received Chinese government funds on pathogens while studying at the University of Michigan, allegedly lied about her student visa application for her in the U.S. attorney’s education program, Jian alleged that Jian accused him of trying to smuggle fungi to the U.S. in 2022 and asked her third party to send her fusarium gramineminearminememaum in January 2022.

Jane’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Chinese officials claim to be unaware of the fungus condition, China requires citizens to “comply with local laws”

“It’s usually no problem,” Jane said in a message to the third person. “Don’t worry. I’ve mailed these before.”

According to authorities, the latest alleged smuggling attempt occurred in July 2024, and authorities said Liu arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to visit Jiang. After landing, Liu was marked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and was subsequently searched.

The affidavit said authorities allegedly found “a mass of Walder’s tissue crumpled in a small pocket in Liu’s backpack.”

Officials said

The affidavit says: “The paper towel covers a piece of paper in Chinese, a round filter paper with a series of circles drawn on it, four transparent plastic bags with small pieces of red plant material inside.”

Authorities said the filter paper was sent by the FBI and the paper showed photography of Fusarium. Authorities said the plastic bags also allegedly carried material contaminated by fungi.

“In addition, the laboratory identified 10 individual samples from the filter paper,” the affidavit said. “Each sample has a hand-pulled circle around it, each circle marked with a code containing letters and/or numbers. The sample labeled ‘06172’ is by FBI Laboratory DNA sequence containing fusarium graminearum. ”

Officials said Liu allegedly denied carrying the pathogen but later admitted to bringing it to the United States. He allegedly told authorities that the couple planned to use the university’s lab to conduct research.

Patel: Chinese nationals are accused of smuggling “known agricultural terrorist agents” as “direct threat”

“These people use their access to local university laboratory facilities to smuggle biological pathogens, an act that poses a threat to public safety,” Cheyvoryea Gibson, a special agent at the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, said in a statement.

Lee and Liu are both accused of conspiracy, false statements, visa fraud and smuggling of goods to the United States

Chinese students were arrested for suspected smuggling of undeclared biological materials.

“As one of the world’s leading public research institutions, the University of Michigan is committed to promoting knowledge, solving challenging problems and improving all aspects of human experience, “University” Said before In the statement.

“We strongly condemn any action that attempts to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the University’s critical public mission. It is important to note that the university’s research with the defendants has not received funding from the Chinese government. We have and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to conduct its further investigation and prosecution.”

Han also appeared in federal court on Friday. She was charged with smuggling goods into the United States and making false statements, according to court documents from Fox News Digital.

Wuhan’s Chinese PhD student arrested smuggled biological materials after deleting electronic evidence: Ministry of Justice

Authorities accused Dr. Han of the University of Science of Scechnolight of Science of Science of Scechnology of Wuhan for mailing four packages containing undeclared biomaterials to staff at the University of Michigan Laboratory.

Han was arrested on Sunday when he signed a J1 visa from Shanghai to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. After arriving, Han was searched by CBP officials and then faced the packages.

According to the criminal complaint, Han allegedly denied mailing the parcels, but later admitted that she had sent them after being pressured by authorities. Han initially told CBP officials that the packages contained only plastic cups, not petri dishes – a book, according to court documents.

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Hantan allegedly admitted to sending them packages containing biomaterials related to roundworms, telling FBI and Homeland Security officials she initially lied to the CBP agent. Officials also found that Han’s electronic devices had wiped their content three days before arriving in the United States

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“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from Wuhan University of Science and Technology in China will be used in a lab at the University of Michigan – part of a shocking model that threatens our safety,” Gorgon said in a statement. “U.S. taxpayers should not underwrite China-based smuggling operations in one of our key public institutions.”

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Olivianna Calmes and Peter D’Abrosca of Fox News contributed to the report.