Two Chinese researchers have been charged by US authorities for smuggling a harmful fungus into the United States, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday.
This development comes as the Trump administration significantly tightens entry conditions for foreign students and researchers, particularly those from China.
The accused are Yunqing Jian, 33, a researcher at the University of Michigan, and her partner Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher at a Chinese university. They face charges of smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud, according to the Department of Justice.
The FBI arrested Yunqing Jian following allegations that she and her partner illegally imported a fungus known as fusarium, which the scientific community classifies as a potential agriterrorism weapon, stated the department in a release.
This toxic fungus is responsible for fusarium head blight, which affects wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing billions in economic losses worldwide annually, according to the report.
The fungous toxins can lead to vomiting and liver damage in both humans and livestock, the department further explained.
Justice Minister Pam Bondi expressed satisfaction in a statement, noting that the accused faces years behind bars for attempting to smuggle a destructive substance into the US.
The accusation alleges that Yunqing Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the fungus in China, with her partner Zunyong Liu also involved in the study.
Zunyong Liu initially lied but then admitted to smuggling fusarium into the US via Detroit Airport to continue research at the University of Michigan’s laboratory, where Jian worked, the Department of Justice claimed.
