2 Chinese researchers charged with smuggling dangerous pathogen into US

In a case dubbed as “agro-terrorism” by Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, two Chinese nationals have been charged in the US for smuggling a harmful biological pathogen into the country, raising serious national security and biosecurity concerns.

The accused — Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34) — face charges of conspiracy, smuggling, visa fraud and making false statements. Authorities allege the pair illegally brought in Fusarium graminearum, a dangerous fungus known to infect key crops such as wheat, rice and maize. The pathogen causes Fusarium head blight (FHB), or scab, which leads to major yield losses and contamination with mycotoxins — toxic compounds that can harm humans and animals, causing vomiting, liver damage and reproductive issues.

Jian, who worked in a University of Michigan laboratory, was arrested by the FBI. Her partner Liu, a university researcher in China, admitted to smuggling the fungus into the US via Detroit airport. Officials noted that Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research and was linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

US Attorney Jerome Gorgon called the incident a serious threat to national security, saying the fungus could potentially be weaponised to target agriculture. The pair allegedly intended to “study the fungus” in a Michigan lab, but investigators are probing their deeper motives.

The case has brought attention to the concept of agro-terrorism — the deliberate introduction of plant or animal pathogens to disrupt food supplies or cause economic damage. It has also raised alarms over Fusarium graminearum, a growing threat globally and particularly in regions like Punjab, where the fungus has caused significant wheat crop losses.

Experts warn that climate change and reduced tillage practices have made wheat crops more vulnerable to the disease, underlining the urgent need for tighter biosecurity measures and agricultural surveillance.