Detroit- Yunqing Jian, 33, & Zunyong Liu, 34, Chinese Nationals charged with conspiracy and Smuggling a Dangerous Biological Pathogen into U.S, 2025.

[dotr]

Chinese couple charged with smuggling crop-killing fungus into the US

One of the Chinese citizens worked at a University of Michigan lab; her boyfriend smuggled in the biological pathogen, according to court records.

www.usatoday.com

''DETROIT — Federal prosecutors accused two Chinese scientists of smuggling into the United States a "dangerous" fungus that causes a disease in crops so that one of them could research the pathogen at a University of Michigan laboratory.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit. The complaint, affidavit, and other documents were unsealed on June 3.

The two researchers were in a romantic relationship in July 2024 when Liu entered the U.S. with small bags of Fusarium graminearum in his backpack, according to the complaint. Liu later admitted that he planned to use the fungus for research at a laboratory at the University of Michigan, where Jian worked.''

 

[Stunned]

I wonder if other stuff was brought in on previous flights?

 

[dotr]

Chinese ‘terrorists’ accused of smuggling toxic fungus into US

Two students allegedly researched ‘agroterrorism weapon’ that can infect crops and make people unwell

www.telegraph.co.uk

''Two Chinese scientists have been arrested for smuggling a toxic fungus that can be used as an “agroterrorism weapon” into the United States.

''Yunqing Jian, a 33-year-old scientist at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend, 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, are accused of smuggling a fungus called Fusarium graminearum.''

The toxic plant pathogen, called Fusarium graminearum, that students hoped to use in their research at the University of Michigan
''The investigation also found that Jian had “received funding from the Chinese government for similar work on this pathogen in China”, according to a post on X by FBI director Kash Patel.

“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals – including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party – are of the gravest national security concerns,” said US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr.''

 

[EnigmaticEpiphany]

It sounds like they were set up by the Chinese government to get caught. Then they will propose a prisoner swap to get some intelligence back.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

OT - Related. I wonder if this incident had anything to do with former UM President Ono being withdrawn from consideration for the same position at University of Florida.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/06/03/santa-ono-rejected-president-university-of-florida-university-of-michigan/84017745007/

The Florida Board of Governors voted Tuesday against the confirmation of former University of Michigan President Santa Ono as the University of Florida's next president, blocking the incoming UF president selection for the first time in its history amid sharp criticism from conservatives...

 

[Ssschu]

I wonder if other stuff was brought in on previous flights?

The answer is yes. They found messages back from 2022 discussing hiding it in their shoes for a flight. From this article:

When investigators spoke to Jian, she denied knowing anything about Liu’s smuggling or plans to research the pathogen, the complaint says.

But an examination of Liu’s and Jian’s electronic devices uncovered WeChat messages from 2022 in which they discussed smuggling seeds into the United States.

“I put them in my Martin boots,” Liu wrote, according to the complaint. “In a small bag. The ziplock bag. Very small.”

“That’s good,” Jian replied, the complaint says. “Just put it in your shoes.”

Chinese couple charged with smuggling a biological pathogen into the U.S.

Yunqing Jian, a researcher at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, studied the pathogen as university students in China.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Ssschu]

The answer is yes. They found messages back from 2022 discussing hiding it in their shoes for a flight. From this article:

When investigators spoke to Jian, she denied knowing anything about Liu’s smuggling or plans to research the pathogen, the complaint says.

But an examination of Liu’s and Jian’s electronic devices uncovered WeChat messages from 2022 in which they discussed smuggling seeds into the United States.

“I put them in my Martin boots,” Liu wrote, according to the complaint. “In a small bag. The ziplock bag. Very small.”

“That’s good,” Jian replied, the complaint says. “Just put it in your shoes.”

Chinese couple charged with smuggling a biological pathogen into the U.S.

Yunqing Jian, a researcher at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, studied the pathogen as university students in China.

www.nbcnews.com

Also from this article:

"At a federal court hearing Tuesday afternoon, a judge ordered Jian to remain behind bars after prosecutors described her as a flight risk. Liu, who was not allowed into the country after the pathogen was allegedly discovered in his backpack, remains at large."

So how did authorities let him escape the Detroit airport?? He's been on the run in the US since last July. Make it make sense! It's frightening how vulnerable our country is to these types of attacks.

 

[The Zookeeper]

The possible ramifications of this type of scenario are terrifying. Then the fact that Liu is not in custody?

 

[Stunned]

How many haven't been caught? That's terrifying. Forget the bombs, we'll terrorize this way!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Bond hearing delayed for University of Michigan scholar accused of bringing crop fungus through DTW

A University of Michigan Chinese scholar will remain in custody after a federal judge rescheduled her detention hearing in a case involving the alleged smuggling of a potentially dangerous agricultural pathogen through Detroit Metro Airport last summer.

www.clickondetroit.com