Justice dept accuses two Chinese researchers of smuggling ‘dangerous biological pathogen’ into US

The Justice Department identified the fungus as Fusarium graminearum, which is classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: June 4, 2025 10:03 AM IST

The department in a statement said the fungus causes "head blight" in some crops and claimed it causes financial losses in billions of dollars globally every year. REUTERS/File Photo

The US Department of Justice prosecutors have accused two Chinese researchers of smuggling a fungus into the US that officials describe as a “dangerous biological pathogen” which has the potential to be allegedly used as an agricultural terrorism weapon.

The Justice Department identified the fungus as Fusarium graminearum, which is classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon. The department in a statement said the fungus causes “head blight” in some crops and claimed it causes financial losses in billions of dollars globally every year.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34 have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods, visa fraud and giving false statements.

According to an FBI criminal complaint, Liu, who is currently in China, brought the controversial fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend Jian in July 2024. The complaint alleged that Liu smuggled the fungus so he could research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory, where his girlfriend Jian worked.

A BBC report states that fungus, Fusarium graminearum, is capable of causing disease in wheat, barley, maize and rice and lead to vomit and liver damage if it gets to food items.

United States Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr stated, “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into in the [sic] heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme,” BBC reported.

Special agent in-charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, Cheyvoryea Gibson, said the action by the Chinese pair pose an imminent threat to public safety. Jian is due to appear in Detroit court, Michigan on Tuesday.

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The US prosecutors have alleged that Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research in pathogens in China, further claiming that she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

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