Chinese Nationals Charged with Smuggling Toxic Fungus into U.S.

In a shocking case of alleged agroterrorism, two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a toxic fungus labeled a "potential agroterrorism weapon," into the United States. The couple, reportedly funded by the Chinese government, intended to conduct research on the pathogen at a University of Michigan laboratory. The fungus, which causes head blight in wheat, barley, maize, and rice, poses a severe threat to U.S. agriculture, potentially leading to billions in economic losses and health risks like vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock. Liu was caught with the fungus hidden in his luggage at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in July 2024, while Jian, a researcher at the university, is accused of coordinating the smuggling. The FBI and U.S. Customs Service uncovered the plot, raising grave national security and food safety concerns. Jian has been arrested, while Liu remains at large, believed to be in China. The University of Michigan condemns the actions and is cooperating with federal authorities.