2 Chinese nationals responsible for smuggling mushrooms “potential agro -terrorism” in us: the doj
Two Chinese nationals have been accused of having pretended to transfer the United States a fungus called “Fusarium Graminearum, who, scientific literature, classifies as a weapon of potential agro-terrorism,” the Ministry of Justice said on Tuesday.
This photo published by the American District Court of the Oriental District of Michigan shows what the authorities say they are organic pathogens discovered in luggage at Detroit airport.
US District Court for the Oriental District of Michigan
Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People’s Republic of China, would have received funding from the Chinese government for their research, some of which at the University of Michigan, officials said.
“The complaint also alleges that Jian’s electronics contain information describing his membership and his loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. He also allegedly alleged that Jian’s boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he is carrying out research on the same pathogen and that he first lied, but then admitted to smuggling Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, MJ press.
This photo published by the American District Court of the Oriental District of Michigan shows what the authorities say they are organic pathogens discovered in luggage at Detroit airport.
US District Court for the Oriental District of Michigan
The prosecutor General Pam Bondi said in a statement that the Ministry of Justice “” has no higher mission than to keep the American people in security and to protect our nation from hostile foreign actors who would hurt us. “
“Thanks to the hard work of our excellent DOJ lawyers, this accused – who tried clandestinely to bring a destructive substance to the United States – will face years behind bars,” said the Attorney General.
The FBI says that it causes a “head burn”, a disease of wheat, barley, corn and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses worldwide each year.
“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals – including a faithful member of the Chinese Communist Party – are the most serious national security problems. These two extraterrestrials were responsible for passing a fungus which was described as a weapon of potential agro -terrorism ” in the diagram of Heartland of America, where they apparently wanted to use a University of the Laboratory of Michigan to advance their pattern, “we apparently had by plane.
In this November 8, 2020, a file photo, a sign is presented at the University of Michigan, in the North Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Stock Image / Getty Images
“Today’s criminal accusations taken from Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu indicate the essential role of the CBP in the protection of the American people against biological threats which could devastate our agricultural economy and cause harm to humans; In particular when he involves a researcher from a large university trying to cause biological operations potentially prejudicial to the protection of the United States.
Jian was to appear on Tuesday afternoon before the Federal Detroit court for his first appearance on the complaint, said the Doj.
The affidavit alleys that Jian and Liu were coming out together, and also sought organic pathogen – and when they were questioned about the transmission of the pathogen to the United States, lied to the authorities of Detroit airport.
This photo published by the American District Court of the Oriental District of Michigan shows what the authorities say they are organic pathogens discovered in luggage at Detroit airport.
US District Court for the Oriental District of Michigan
“On July 27, 2024, Liu entered the United States and told the authorities that he visited his girlfriend, then returned to China to start his own laboratory in China. Affidavit said.
He told the authorities that he did not know how the materials ended up in his bag and suggested that someone had placed them there, said officials, but after questioning more, he admitted to place them in the bag.
He was not arrested at that time, suggest the judicial archives.
“Liu said that he had intentionally hidden the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of documents,” said complaint. “Liu confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a bundle of fabrics so that CBP officers are less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States.”
The University of Michigan published a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
“We strongly condemn all the actions that seek to harm, to threaten national security or to undermine the critical public mission of the university,” said the school statement. “It is important to note that the University has not received any funding from the Chinese government in connection with the research carried out by the accused. We have and will continue to cooperate with the federal police in its investigation and its current prosecution.”
