Chinese Nationals Charged in Plot to Smuggle ‘Agroterrorism Weapon’ Into U.S.

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – Two Chinese nationals have been charged in what federal officials are calling a “grave national security threat” after allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States with the intent to conduct research at the University of Michigan. Authorities say the scheme involved a toxin-laced fungus capable of decimating America’s agricultural system and causing severe illness in humans and livestock.

According to the Department of Justice, 33-year-old University of Michigan research fellow Yunqing Jian and her boyfriend, 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, are accused of transporting Fusarium graminearum, a fungus classified in scientific literature as a “potential agroterrorism weapon.” The pathogen is known to cause “head blight,” a disease affecting staple crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and has led to billions in losses globally.

FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital the case “is a sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply,” warning that the incident could have “crippled our economy and endangered American lives.”

Jian, who remains in custody without bond, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Detroit. Her boyfriend, Liu, is believed to have fled to China. Prosecutors allege that Liu initially denied–but later admitted–to smuggling the fungus through Detroit Metropolitan Airport, intending to use it at the same university lab where Jian worked.

Both suspects have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, visa fraud, and making false statements.

“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals–including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party–are of the gravest national security concerns,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon. “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus into the heartland of America where they apparently intended to weaponize a research facility.”

The DOJ notes that Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research and that her electronic devices contain materials affirming her allegiance to the CCP. Liu is a researcher at a Chinese university working on the same pathogen.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Marty Raybon emphasized the broader implications of the case: “These charges demonstrate CBP’s crucial role in safeguarding America from biological threats. The introduction of this pathogen could have devastated our agricultural economy and posed direct harm to human health.”

Public health experts warned that toxins produced by Fusarium graminearum can cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in both humans and animals. Dr. Jerrald Leikin of the University of Illinois-Chicago said the pathogen’s effects could have triggered widespread disruptions in the U.S. food supply chain and would have been difficult for hospitals to detect.

The University of Michigan issued a statement Tuesday condemning “any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.” Jian is still listed on the university’s website as a postdoctoral fellow.

The arrests come as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of foreign students and researchers from adversarial nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced plans to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese nationals tied to the CCP or working in sensitive research areas.

While the charges remain part of an ongoing investigation, experts warn that America’s farm fields may increasingly become targets in 21st-century geopolitical conflict.

A felony indictment has not yet been filed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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