Key Takeaways
- Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a fungus linked to agroterrorism risks.
- The pathogen causes crop disease and produces toxins harmful to humans and livestock.
- U.S. officials allege the individuals intended to use a University of Michigan lab for unauthorized research.
- Jian is reported to have ties to the Chinese Communist Party and received government funding for related work in China.
- Federal authorities stress the national security threat and potential economic harm posed by agroterrorism.
Agroterrorism Concerns Raised Following Charges Against Two Researchers
Two citizens of the People’s Republic of China, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling biological materials, making false statements, and visa fraud, in a case that federal authorities are linking to potential agroterrorism. The charges were announced by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, in collaboration with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Fungus Identified as Agricultural Threat
At the center of the charges is the smuggling of Fusarium graminearum, a fungus known to cause head blight in major cereal crops including wheat, maize, barley, and rice. The disease is responsible for significant economic losses globally and produces toxins that pose health risks to both humans and livestock. Scientific literature has categorized this pathogen as a potential agent for agroterrorism due to its capacity to undermine food security and agricultural productivity.
Intentions and Institutional Links
According to the criminal complaint, Jian allegedly brought the fungus into the United States through Detroit Metropolitan Airport with the intention of conducting research at a University of Michigan laboratory, where she was employed. Liu, her partner, reportedly admitted to smuggling the pathogen after initially denying involvement. The complaint also alleges Jian’s links to the Chinese Communist Party and government-funded research on the same fungus.
Statements from Federal Officials
U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson emphasized the threat posed: “These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities…an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety.”
Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations for CBP, added: “Today’s criminal charges…are indicative of CBP’s critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate our agricultural economy and cause harm to humans.”
Legal Proceedings and National Security Implications Of Agroterrorism
Jian is expected to appear in federal court in Detroit. The charges in the complaint are preliminary; no trial will be held until a formal indictment is issued.
While the investigation is ongoing, the case has prompted renewed focus on agroterrorism and biosecurity within U.S. research institutions and agriculture. Officials indicated that efforts to introduce harmful biological agents—whether through negligence or intent—will be prosecuted with full severity under national security laws.
