Potential ‘agroterrorism weapon’
Washington: In a significant national security development, two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the United States for allegedly smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen capable of threatening global food security. The arrests were confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel, who described the incident as a serious agroterrorism concern.
The suspects, identified as Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face multiple charges including conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
According to authorities, Jian allegedly smuggled Fusarium graminearum, a potent crop-damaging fungus, into the country for research purposes at the University of Michigan, where she is reportedly affiliated. The fungus is known to cause head blight, a devastating plant disease that affects key food crops such as wheat, rice, maize, and barley. It can also pose health risks to humans and livestock and is responsible for billions of dollars in crop losses globally each year.
New… I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country.
The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called “Fusarium graminearum,” which is an…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025
“This case involves a fungus that poses a serious risk to global food security and public health,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., emphasizing the national security implications of introducing such a biological agent into the U.S. research ecosystem.
FBI Director Patel described the smuggling of the pathogen as “a matter of grave concern,” underlining its classification as an agroterrorism agent. The investigation is ongoing, with federal agencies treating the case as a high-priority biosecurity threat.
