Chinese couple charged of smuggling deadly pathogen into USA

New Delhi (India) June 4: A dangerous biological pathogen has been reportedly smuggled into the US for study by two Chinese nationals. According to reports, there was a chance that the pathogen may be used for agricultural terrorism.

In July 2024, Zunyong Liu, a researcher who is presently in China, carried the fungus into the United States while he was visiting Yunqing Jian, his girlfriend. Liu admitted that he had brought the pathogen into the US illegally in order to study it in a lab at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend was employed.

The pathogen has been categorised as Fusarium graminearum. According to the US Department of Justice, it has been identified as a possible agroterrorism weapon in scientific terms. The pathogen is a source of significant financial losses and can cause "head blight" in crops.

FBI Director Kash Patel said it serves as a "sobering reminder" that the Chinese Communist Party is attempting to send agents and researchers to target the US food supply by joining American institutions.

Kash Patel said, “New... I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.”

“The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called 'Fusarium graminearum,' which is an agroterrorism agent, into the U.S. to research at the University of Michigan, where she works. This fungus can cause a disease called 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing significant health issues in both humans and livestock. It is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.”

He also said that there is evidence that Jian was loyal to the Chinese Communist Party and that the Chinese government funded similar research on this pathogen in China.

The FBI and US Customs and Border Protection had worked together on the inquiry.

The accusations were called "gravest national security concerns" by US Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

He said, "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.”

Currently, Jian and Liu are being held by the federal government. They might be extracted from the United States and sentenced to a lengthy prison term if they are found guilty. Authorities are still investigating the case and have not ruled out any more charges or accomplices.

They have faced charges of conspiracy, visa fraud, making false statements, and smuggling products into the United States.

The incident occurs at the time of tense US-China ties, particularly after the Trump administration had threatened to "aggressively" cancel Chinese researchers' and students' permits to the US.

Aadrika Tayal