CHILLING ARREST: Chinese Student Caught Smuggling Biological Materials Into US
— A Chinese Ph.D. student from Wuhan, Chengxuan Han, was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Authorities say Han tried to sneak biological materials into the U.S. and lied to federal agents about it. The Department of Justice claims he hid roundworm samples in packages and even tucked some between book pages for people linked to a University of Michigan lab.
This isn’t an isolated case. Just last week, two other Chinese scientists were charged with smuggling a fungus that can destroy crops and threaten America’s farms. These repeated incidents raise serious questions about what’s coming across our borders — and why.
Federal officials warn that bringing in biological substances for research needs strict approval from the government. This protects both national security and public health. The FBI is now digging deeper into unauthorized transfers by foreign researchers, especially those tied to China or Wuhan labs.
Han is still in custody as the investigation moves forward. U.S. leaders are reviewing how these materials get imported and checking academic partnerships with foreign nationals — hoping to stop future threats before they start.
