Two Chinese nationals have been accused of smuggling a fungus into the US that officials describe as a “dangerous biological pathogen.” Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face charges including conspiracy, smuggling goods, and visa fraud.
The fungus, Fusarium graminearum, can cause disease in wheat, barley, maize, and rice, leading to crop failure and foodborne illness. US officials consider it a “potential agroterrorism weapon” responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.
Ms Jian, who worked at the University of Michigan laboratory, allegedly received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen. Her boyfriend, Mr Liu, attempted to smuggle the fungus through Detroit airport to study it further.
The US Attorney’s Office and FBI have launched a joint investigation into the matter. Ms Jian is scheduled to appear in court in Detroit on Tuesday. The charges raise national security concerns amid strained relations between the US and China.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gkdppymk4o