Chinese Couple Charged in Years-Long Plot to Smuggle Toxic Fungus into U.S., Raising Agroterrorism Concerns

DETROIT, June 4, 2025 — Two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face federal charges in Michigan for allegedly orchestrating a multi-year scheme to smuggle a dangerous biological pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, into the United States. The fungus, described by authorities as a “potential agroterrorism weapon,” was intended for research at a University of Michigan laboratory, sparking significant national security concerns.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Liu was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in July 2024, with the toxic fungus in his backpack. Fusarium graminearum causes “head blight,” a devastating crop disease affecting wheat, barley, maize, and rice, responsible for billions in global economic losses annually. The pathogen also poses health risks to humans and livestock, potentially causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues, the Justice Department stated.

Jian, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, and Liu, a researcher at Zhejiang University in China, face charges including conspiracy, smuggling goods, making false statements, and visa fraud. Prosecutors allege Liu admitted to smuggling the fungus to conduct research at Jian’s university lab, after initially lying to border officials about his intentions. Electronic communications between the couple, uncovered by the FBI, revealed discussions about shipping biological materials and prior smuggling attempts, including an incident in 2022 where Jian allegedly concealed a pathogen in her shoe during a U.S. trip.

The complaint further alleges Jian received funding from the Chinese government for pathogen research and has ties to the Chinese Communist Party, intensifying concerns about the plot’s motives. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. described the case as one of “the gravest national security concerns,” emphasizing the risks of introducing a biohazard into America’s agricultural heartland. FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson echoed this, stating the couple “exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety.”

Jian was arrested and ordered detained as a flight risk following a federal court hearing on Tuesday. Liu, denied entry to the U.S. after the airport discovery, remains at large in China. The investigation uncovered a scientific article on Liu’s phone titled “Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions,” fueling suspicions of deliberate intent.

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the case as a “serious national security threat” to the U.S. food supply, warning of the broader implications of agroterrorism. The charges come amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese researchers in the U.S., with the Trump administration reportedly planning to revoke visas for students with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, particularly in sensitive fields.

The University of Michigan has not issued a public response to requests for comment on the case. The charges underscore growing fears about the weaponization of biological agents and the vulnerability of America’s agricultural sector, prompting calls for stricter oversight of foreign researchers and biological imports.

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