Authorities have released mug shots of Chinese nationals accused of bringing undeclared biological materials into the U.S. Court documents indicate that Chengxuan Han was set to appear in federal court on Wednesday, facing charges of smuggling goods and making false statements. However, her detention hearing was cut short as her attorney requested extra time for “additional matters related to bond issues.”
Han is a Chinese citizen, holding a PhD and studying at the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. This month marks the third arrest of a Chinese citizen for similar smuggling charges. Yunqing Jian, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu were also arrested for allegedly importing a substance known as “Agroterrorism Agent” M to Michigan’s research lab.
According to the charges, between September 2024 and March 2025, four packages containing undeclared biological materials were allegedly mailed to individuals at the University of Michigan lab. On Sunday, Han arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Shanghai on a J1 visa and underwent inspection by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.
Han initially denied mailing the package but later acknowledged it when pressed. She claimed it contained plastic cups and books instead of Petri dishes, as noted in court documents. The FBI has expressed concern that the smuggling of biological materials may pose a threat to public safety and national security.
The charges state that Han sent a package containing biomaterials related to roundworms. Moreover, CBP officials discovered that she had deleted content from her electronic devices just days before her arrival in the U.S. After the search, the FBI and Homeland Security interviewed her, during which she confessed to making a false statement to a CBP officer about the package.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, an FBI special agent in charge, emphasized the agency’s commitment to upholding federal laws and the threat this case potentially poses to American safety. U.S. attorney Jerome Gorgon remarked on the alarming trend of international smuggling that could compromise the integrity of federal research institutions.
Han is slated to return to court for a hearing on June 13th.
