The United States arrested two Chinese scientists after the pair allegedly attempted to smuggle a toxic fungus into the US in their backpacks last year, authorities announced last week.
The pair, who worked in a lab at the University of Michigan, are said to have attempted to smuggle Fusarium graminearum - a type of fungus which can devastate wheat, barley, maize, and rice with “head blight” while also sickening both livestock and humans. It is said that the fungi cause billions in agricultural losses every year.
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud.
Whilst under the employ of the university, according to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. Jian’s electronics were also said to contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party.
Liu was deported from Detroit last year after failing to provide a consistent story in relation to a red plant material found in his backpack, the FBI confirmed.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that the fungi was described as a “potential agroterrorism weapon” in scientific journals.
However, agriculture experts interviewed by Reuters this week said the fungus has been in the US for more than a century, can be prevented by spraying pesticides, and is only dangerous if ingested regularly and in large quantities.
"As a weapon, it would be a pretty ineffective one," said Jessica Rutkoski, a crop sciences professor, wheat breeder, and geneticist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rutkoski and other researchers said extensive testing for the fungus's toxin, widespread use of fungicides, and the difficulty of intentionally creating an infection with the pathogen would make it a clumsy weapon.
Officials condemn alleged smuggling attempt
United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.”
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office added: “These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety. Thanks to the exceptional investigative efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, in close cooperation with US Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, these dangerous activities have been effectively halted. The FBI remains resolutely committed to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to protect the residents of Michigan and defend the United States against such grave threats.”
The University of Michigan said in a statement it condemned "any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission."
"It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals," the university said, adding it will "continue to cooperate" with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.
FBI director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the case was a reminder that China's ruling Communist Party "is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk."