A Chinese researcher, Yunqing Jian, has been deported after smuggling a harmful fungus called vomitoxin into the U.S., authorities announced on Monday.
The 33-year-old, who used to work at the University of Michigan, pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to bring biological agents into the country, conducting research, and then misleading the FBI. She has since been sentenced to prison.
FBI Director Dan Bongino confirmed on social media that Jiang was found guilty and deported.
Bongino stated, “Yunqing Jian, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, was deported after pleading guilty to smuggling dangerous biological agents into our country and lying to FBI agents.” He emphasized the FBI’s commitment to preventing foreign adversaries from exploiting U.S. university facilities.
Jiang, along with her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, was researching the fungus Fusarium graminearum, which is known to cause “red blight,” adversely affecting wheat, barley, corn, and rice.
This fungus also poses risks to livestock, earning the nickname “emetic toxin” due to its ability to induce vomiting. It’s linked to various health issues in animals and humans, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, and fever.
Prosecutors allege that Jian is a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party and received funding from China for her research.
Liu, 34, was involved in transporting the pathogen in his backpack during a flight to the U.S. through Detroit Metropolitan Airport for the purpose of studying it at the University of Michigan.
However, he was detained in July after authorities discovered suspicious red plant material in his bag and was subsequently sent back to China.
Text messages exchanged between the couple in 2024 indicate that Jiang had already started working with the fungus in Michigan before Liu’s arrest.
The fungus poses a significant threat, thriving in parts of the eastern U.S. and upper Midwest, causing annual agricultural losses estimated between $200 million and $400 million.
While it’s not unusual for researchers to import biological materials from abroad, obtaining the necessary permissions is crucial.
Jian’s lawyer, Norman Zalkind, expressed to the Post that his client was extradited to China just two days after her guilty plea, arguing that federal authorities had exaggerated her crimes. He remarked, “They shouldn’t have had this kind of incident. It’s not a serious incident,” adding that the administration’s response was disproportionately severe.
Furthermore, at least four other Chinese nationals have faced charges for similar attempts to bring biological materials into the U.S. for research at the University of Michigan.
