Chinese Citizen Faces Smuggling Charges
This week, a Chinese national, claiming to be a “visiting scholar” at the University of Michigan, found themselves potentially facing a lengthy prison sentence after being charged with smuggling and making false statements to federal officers.
Chenguan Han, a PhD candidate from the University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, entered a no-contest plea in a federal court in Detroit regarding four packages sent from China. These packages contained hidden biological materials linked to a colleague at a Michigan lab.
This incident marks the latest in a series of criminal cases involving Chinese students and possibly dangerous biological materials at the University of Michigan.
In a related story from June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Michigan charged two other Chinese nationals, suspected of smuggling materials to the university that could threaten American crops.
The Ministry of Education recently announced an investigation into foreign funding at the University of Michigan, which is often likened to an Ivy League institution. They cited “inaccurate and incomplete disclosures,” suggesting a complicated history with China.
During the investigation into Han, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan revealed that she arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on June 8, 2025, on a J1 visa. Customs and Border Protection conducted an inspection where Han allegedly provided false information about her package and the biological materials that had been shipped to the U.S. After the inspection, FBI and ICE agents interviewed her, during which she admitted to sending the package that contained materials related to roundworms.
It was also noted that the contents of her electronic device had been wiped three days prior to her arrival in the U.S.
“In an effort to evade our border protections, Han smuggled roundworms and other biomaterials into the country on three separate occasions,” a Customs official stated. “One time, she claimed she was sending a ‘fun letter.’ The University of Michigan had invited her to become a visiting scholar, offering her over $41,000 annually for her research at the Life Science Institute.”
“There’s something off about what’s happening in Ann Arbor,” a Customs official commented.
Details about whether the worms Han sent pose any risks to people or crops have not been disclosed.
The verdict is set for September 10, 2025. A conviction for smuggling materials into the U.S. could lead to a maximum sentence of 20 years, while making false statements might carry a five-year sentence.
