Home | News | Chinese Researchers Charged with Agroterrorism Attempt in U.S.

Chinese Researchers Charged with Agroterrorism Attempt in U.S.

Mushroom smuggling scheme uncovered as “potential weapon of agro-terrorism”

fusarium blight in wheat (Photo: Casafe)

By Aakansha Malia

June 9, 2025
2:00 pm
Los Angeles, CA

In a startling development, two Chinese nationals were detained in the United States on June 4 for allegedly smuggling a toxic fungus, Fusarium graminearum, into the country. The individuals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were reportedly carrying the pathogen through Detroit Metropolitan Airport for a research study. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), initiated an investigation into the matter. The FBI’s probe revealed that both individuals were student researchers at a Chinese university. They demonstrated allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and had previously received funding from the Chinese government to conduct studies on this pathogen. FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the actions, stating that the fungus could have posed a national security threat to the

In a startling development, two Chinese nationals were detained in the United States on June 4 for allegedly smuggling a toxic fungus, Fusarium graminearum, into the country. The individuals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were reportedly carrying the pathogen through Detroit Metropolitan Airport for a research study. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), initiated an investigation into the matter.

The FBI’s probe revealed that both individuals were student researchers at a Chinese university. They demonstrated allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and had previously received funding from the Chinese government to conduct studies on this pathogen. FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the actions, stating that the fungus could have posed a national security threat to the domestic food supply.

U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. characterized the allegations as “of the gravest national security concerns.” He emphasized, “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.”

In response, a Chinese embassy official addressed the allegations by stating, “Beijing has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.” The incident has further strained the already tense relations between the United States and China, coinciding with the Trump administration’s decision to revoke visas for Chinese nationals studying in the U.S.

What Exactly Is the Dangerous Pathogen?

Fusarium graminearum, also known as Fusarium head blight (FHB), is a fungal pathogen that affects cereal grain crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and corn. It is ranked among the five most destructive fungal pathogens impacting agroecosystems. The fungus can reduce crop yields by contaminating grains and causing a disease known as Fusarium head blight or “scab.” The mycotoxins produced by F. graminearum, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), can pose serious health risks to humans and livestock, including vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues.

The economic impact of FHB is significant. Since 1990, wheat and barley farmers in the United States have lost over $3 billion due to FHB epidemics. In 2019 alone, more than 45 million bushels of wheat were lost in the northern United States due to this disease. The fungus is known to cause $1 billion in global crop damage each year.

Why It Matters

The alleged smuggling of Fusarium graminearum into the United States has garnered widespread international attention due to China’s history with spreading the coronavirus pathogen that caused a global pandemic in 2020. The health crisis, believed to have originated from a lab in Wuhan, wreaked havoc across the world. A 2021 report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) of the United States indicated that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology did not diligently follow precautionary practices while handling high-risk pathogens, increasing the risk of exposure and leaks.

The alleged act of smuggling an agro-pathogen into the U.S. by Chinese nationals is viewed as a targeted attack on the food supply chain, which could destabilize the economy and the government in power. Experts, however, have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of using Fusarium graminearum as a bioterrorism weapon, citing the complexities involved in spreading the fungus and its already widespread presence in U.S. crops.