A Chinese researcher in Michigan and her boyfriend have been charged with smuggling a dangerous crop pathogen into the U.S., in a case officials describe as a serious national security concern.
A Chinese researcher at the University of Michigan and her boyfriend have been charged with smuggling a crop-threatening biological pathogen into the United States, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Yunqing Jian, 33, a postdoctoral fellow, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, and making false statements. U.S. Customs officers found Fusarium graminearum, a harmful fungus, hidden in Liu’s backpack in July at Detroit airport.
“Liu stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions,” court documents reveal.
Investigators later found WeChat messages from 2022 suggesting the couple had previously discussed smuggling seeds into the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon called the case a grave national security concern involving a “loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party.”
The University of Michigan said it condemns any actions that threaten national security, adding it has no Chinese government funding tied to the accused.
Jian is in custody. Liu remains at large. The FBI Counterintelligence Division is investigating.