FBI Director Warns of National Security Threat After Chinese Nationals Charged With Smuggling Dangerous Pathogen Into U.S.

FBI Director Kash Patel has issued a stark warning after two Chinese nationals were charged with smuggling a hazardous biological agent into the United States, calling the incident a significant threat to the nation’s food supply and overall security.

According to Fox News, federal authorities have charged Yunqing Jian, a research fellow at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, both citizens of China, with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud. The Department of Justice alleges that the pair attempted to bring a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which is classified as a “potential agroterrorism weapon,” into the country.

“Federal prosecutors note the noxious fungus causes ‘head blight,’ a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and ‘is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year,’” according to Fox News. The Justice Department also highlighted that toxins produced by the fungus can cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues in both humans and livestock.

Patel told Fox News Digital, “This case is a sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives.”

“Smuggling a known agroterrorism agent into the U.S. is not just a violation of law, it’s a direct threat to national security,” he continued, praising the FBI Detroit Division and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for intercepting the biological threat before any harm could occur.

According to the criminal complaint, Jian, 33, had received funding from the Chinese government for her work on the pathogen. Investigators also found evidence on her electronic devices suggesting her loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Liu, 34, is said to work at a Chinese university conducting research on the same fungus and allegedly admitted to smuggling it into the U.S. through Detroit Metropolitan Airport, intending to study it at the University of Michigan.

Jian was arrested and appeared in federal court in Detroit, while it remains unclear if Liu is in custody.

U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon described the actions of Jian and Liu as “of the gravest national security concerns,” emphasizing the risks posed by smuggling a potential agroterrorism agent into the U.S. heartland.

CBP Director of Field Operations Marty Raybon underscored the agency’s role in preventing biological threats from entering the country, noting the complexity of the investigation and the importance of interagency cooperation.

Jian is still listed as a post-doctoral research fellow on the University of Michigan’s website. The university has not yet commented on the case. The Justice Department clarified that a trial cannot proceed on felony charges based solely on a complaint; a decision on whether to seek an indictment will be made after the investigation concludes.

The charges come amid heightened scrutiny of foreign nationals at U.S. universities. The Trump administration has recently moved to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals, especially those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive fields.