A seal of the Department of Justice is prominently displayed on a podium prior to a press conference at the Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C., on March 21, 2024.
Detroit (AP) – A Chinese researcher was apprehended upon her arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, marking the second incident within days linked to the suspected illegal transport of biological materials, according to officials.
The individual faces allegations of having previously sent biological materials to personnel at a laboratory affiliated with the University of Michigan. According to a filing from the FBI, the materials pertain to specific worms and necessitate governmental authorization for importation.
John Nowak, who oversees field operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, stated, “The regulations governing the importation of biological materials for research in the United States are both strict and well-defined; violations such as this compromise the legitimate endeavors of other visiting academics.”
The scientist was taken into custody following an interview on Sunday after arriving from China, where she is enrolled in a postgraduate program at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She had intended to spend a year working on a project at the University of Michigan.
Authorities intercepted and examined her shipments, which included an envelope concealed within a book, during last year and earlier this year, as reported by the FBI.
The court documents do not clarify whether the FBI assesses the biological materials as hazardous; however, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. emphasized that smuggling activities “pose a threat to our security.”
Last week, two other Chinese researchers were charged with conspiring to illegally import a toxic fungus into the United States. One individual was turned away at Detroit airport last year and sent back to China, while the other, affiliated with the University of Michigan, was arrested and remains in custody.
