FBI Coordinates Arrest of Chinese Hacker

FBI Director Kash Patel has stated that a trip to Italy in early 2026 played a crucial role in the recent arrest of a Chinese national suspected of hacking U.S. coronavirus research.

Xu Zewei is now in U.S. custody following a coordinated effort with Italian authorities, marking a notable instance in which a suspected state-linked hacker has been extradited to face charges in the United States.

He was transferred from Italy in recent days to confront federal charges that relate to a cyber campaign carried out from 2020 to 2021, aimed at accessing sensitive research related to coronavirus treatments and vaccines.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Patel noted that they were able to “directly link” Xu to China’s Ministry of State Security and its Shanghai bureau, although further specifics are under wraps pending declassification.

Patel described the arrests as the result of careful collaboration with Italian officials, led by the Chief of Italian National Police, Vittorio Pisani. They acted promptly to avoid delays that could arise from additional legal issues over Xu’s extradition.

The FBI Director emphasized how they worked closely with their Italian partners to ensure Xu was apprehended locally, discussing his trip that also included meetings related to Olympic security.

At the time, he faced some scrutiny for attending an Olympic event, which led to questions about the official nature of his visit.

Patel has called Xu “one of China’s top two cybercriminals in the world,” claiming he was instrumental in targeting U.S. universities and research institutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He remarked, “Bringing him to Houston for prosecution was essentially my work during what was supposed to be a vacation in Italy.”

The indictment alleges Xu gained unauthorized access to a U.S. research university in early 2020 and subsequently relayed this information to Chinese intelligence, receiving orders to hack email accounts of virologists and immunologists involved in coronavirus research.

Patel mentioned that Chinese officials had attempted to intervene recently to stop Xu’s extradition, emphasizing that timing had played a crucial role, given past instances where accused agents managed to evade extradition.

He alluded to a case from 2025 where a Chinese national arrested in Serbia was eventually sent back to China, despite U.S. efforts to secure custody.

Authorities claim that Xu and his associates focused on U.S. institutions, gaining access to email accounts and sensitive research material during the pandemic’s peak. However, the Justice Department has yet to disclose the specific data that was allegedly compromised.

Patel stated that the operation was strategically planned during a period when adversaries were aiming to undermine the U.S. amidst the pandemic, with targets specifically related to vaccine and treatment research.

Additionally, prosecutors accuse Xu of exploiting weaknesses in the Microsoft Exchange Server in a broader hacking operation linked to the “HAFNIUM” group, which has affected thousands of entities globally, including over 12,000 in the U.S.

Details have emerged suggesting that Chinese intelligence utilizes private contractors for cyber efforts while obscuring the government’s direct involvement.

Victims of these cyberattacks included a Washington, D.C. law firm, where the perpetrators sought information related to U.S. policymakers.

Xu’s alleged accomplice has also been charged but remains at large. While Patel refrained from discussing the wider network involved, he highlighted that China’s Ministry of State Security remains an ongoing target for the FBI.

He noted that MSS continuously seeks to steal sensitive information from the U.S., emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by these cyber operations.

Patel reaffirmed that countering espionage from China is a primary focus for the FBI, indicating a significant uptick in arrests linked to Chinese activities.

Despite efforts to combat these threats, the Chinese embassy has not commented on the developments surrounding Xu’s extradition and charges.