FBI nabs another alleged Chinese biomaterials smuggler

The Justice Department on Monday charged a Chinese woman with smuggling biological materials into the United States and lying to federal agents. The suspect, Chengxuan Han, is a Chinese citizen studying for a doctorate degree in Wuhan, China. She is the third person charged on similar allegations in recent days, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.

What did Chengxuan allegedly smuggle? She is accused of mailing from China four packages containing biological material related to roundworms to people associated with a lab at the University of Michigan. On Sunday, Chengxuan allegedly lied about the packages to officials at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. They discovered that she deleted the contents of her electronic device days before the interview, according to the Justice Department. Roundworms are parasites linked to disease in animals and humans.

Chengxuan admitted to both charges in a follow-up interview with FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the Justice Department said. She is presumed legally innocent until proven guilty in court. Federal enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Customs and Border Protection, are investigating her case, the department said.

Was the biomaterial dangerous? Patel called the smuggled material a pathogen. He also said the Chinese Communist Party was relentlessly working to undermine American research institutions. Last week, two Chinese nationals were charged with smuggling a dangerous fungus into the United States—also intended for the University of Michigan, where one of them worked. The Justice Department did not confirm whether Chengxuan allegedly mailed the biomaterial to one of the previously arrested suspects or someone else at the university.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report from last week about fungus smuggling.