Chinese nationals accused of smuggling ‘agroterrorism weapon’ fungus into US

On Friday, two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling biological equipment in the United States appeared before the court while the federal authorities are fighting to keep them detained in cases, they say they concern “national security”.

Michigan University The post-doctoral researcher Yunqing Jian and the student of the University of Science and Technology of Huazhong, Chengxuan Han, were ordered to stay in police custody because their separate cases remain in progress.

During the hearing, Han, accused of having sent accessories containing biological documents to the laboratory of the University of Michigan, became visibly emotional and was seen suffocated tears when she learned that her preliminary audience had been pushed to a later date.

On Friday, during his brief detention hearing, Han lawyer said that her client agreed without prejudice and would remain in federal detention.

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“Ms. Han is presumed innocent, and we will expect more procedures to comment more,” said her lawyer previously in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Han’s preliminary hearing was initially set for June 23, but was then postponed for June 30. Han and Jian will remain in police custody until their next audiences.

Jian and his boyfriend, Chinese researcher Zunyong Liu, were charged this month after trying to transport Fusarium Graminearum, a “potential agro-terrorism weapon” which can inflict dangerous health effects on humans in the country in August 2022, prosecutors said.

“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals – notably a faithful member of the Chinese Communist Party – are the most serious national security problems,” said the United States lawyer for the eastern district of Michigan Jerome Gorgon in a statement. “These two extraterrestrials were responsible for passing a fungus which was described as a” potential Agroterrorism weapon“In the Heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a laboratory from the University of Michigan to continue their program.”

Han was also arrested in June after allegedly sent four packages containing undeclared biological material To people working in the University of Michigan laboratory from September 2024 to March 2025, according to the criminal complaint.

In the case of Jian and Liu, a WeChat conversation would have revealed that the couple reflects on ways of transporting the substance, Jian finally deciding to hide the bags in his shoes.

The fungus causes a “head burn”, described as a disease of wheat, corn, rice and barley, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses in the world each year, according to the Ministry of Justice. If it is ingested by humans, the substance can cause vomiting, liver damage and “reproductive defects in humans and livestock”.

Friday detention hearing lasted for about two minutes, Jian appearing in an orange combination and handcuffed around the waist. A federal judge postponed the hearing until next Friday due to Jian’s request to request a private lawyer.

According to the criminal complaint, Jian initially received funding from the Chinese government for his work on the pathogen while studying at the University of Michigan and lied at his request for a student visa concerning his education plans in American prosecutors allege Jian for the first time to pass his Fusarium Gramearum in 2022, with an example of his third party.

Jian’s lawyer did not immediately respond to the request for comments from Fox News Digital.

The Chinese official does not claim any knowledge of the situation of fungi, says that China demands that citizens respect local laws ”

“There is generally no problem,” said Jian in a third -person message. “Rest assured. I have already sent them.”

The most recent smuggling attempt would have taken place in July 2024, when Liu arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport to visit Jian, according to the authorities. At landing, Liu was reported by customs and the protection of American borders (CBP) and then searched.

The authorities would have discovered “a bundle of fabrics collapsed in a small pocket in the backpack of Liu”, according to the Affidavit.

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“The fabrics hid a note in Chinese, a piece of round filter paper with a series of circles attracted on it, and four transparent plastic bags with small tufts of reddish plant material inside,” said the affidavit.

The filter paper was sent for tests by the FBI, which revealed that it contained Fusarium Graminearum, according to the authorities. The plastic bags would also have worn materials contaminated by the fungus, the authorities said.

“In addition, the laboratory has identified 10 distinct samples from the filter paper,” said the Affidavit. “Each sample had a circle drawn by hand 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 would have denied having carried the pathogen, but then admitted to having brought him to the United States intentionally, officials said. He would have told the authorities that the pair planned to use the university laboratory to conduct research.

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“These people have exploited their access to laboratory installations of a local university to engage in the smuggling of organic pathogens, an act which constituted an imminent threat to public security,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field.

Jian and Liu are both accused of conspiracy, false statements, visa fraud and smuggling in the United States

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“As one of the main public research institutions in the world, the University of Michigan is devoted to advancing knowledge, solving difficult problems and improving almost all facets of human experience”, the University said previously in a declaration.

“We firmly condemn all the actions that seek to harm, to threaten national security or to undermine the critical public mission of the university. It is important to note that the university has not received any funding from the Chinese government in connection with the research carried out by the accused people. We have and will continue to cooperate with the federal police in its investigation and its prosecution.”

Han also appeared on Friday before the Federal Court. She is accused of passing goods in the United States and making false statements, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

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The authorities allege Han, a doctorate. Student at the Wuhan’s College of Life Science and Technology at the University of Sciences and Technologies of Huazhong, sent four packages containing undeclared biological equipment to the staff of the Laboratory of the University of Michigan.

Han was arrested on Sunday when he went to the Metropolitan Airport in Detroit from Shanghai on a J1 visa. Upon his arrival, Han was excavated by CBP officers, then faced with regard to the packages.

According to the criminal complaint, Han would have denied having sent packages, but later admitted that she had sent them after being pressed by the authorities. Han first told the CBP officers that the packages contained only plastic cups – not petri boxes – and a book, according to court documents.

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Han would have admitted to having sent the packages, which contained biomaterials linked to roundworms, saying to the FBI and the interior security officials that she had initially lied to CBP agents. The police also discovered that Han electronic devices had been wiped off their content three days before arriving in the United States

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“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this foreigner of a scientific and technological university in Wuhan, China – to be used in a laboratory at the University of Michigan – is one of an alarming model that threatens our security,” Gorgon said in a statement. “The American taxpayer should not take out a smuggling operation based on RPC in one of our crucial public institutions.”

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Olivianna Calmes de Fox News and Peter d’Abrosca contributed to this report.