Two Chinese scientists accused of illegally importing biological materials into the U.S. to support work at the University of Michigan will remain in custody after waiving their right to detention hearings in federal court on Friday.
Yunqing Jian and Chengxuan Han appeared separately in a Detroit courtroom, where both agreed not to contest the government’s motion to keep them jailed as their criminal cases proceed. Han’s lawyer, Sara Garber, described the matter as a “constantly evolving situation involving a large number of factors,” but declined to elaborate further.
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Biological Shipments and Lab Research
Chengxuan Han, a graduate student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, was arrested last Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. According to court documents, she had previously mailed four packages containing biological material related to roundworms to staff at a University of Michigan laboratory — shipments that lacked proper U.S. government permits. Experts said the material was not dangerous, but it raised red flags with federal authorities.
Han had intended to spend a year at the university completing research but now faces charges related to unpermitted transport of biological specimens.
Fungus Smuggling Allegations
Yunqing Jian faces more serious allegations involving a toxic agricultural fungus known as Fusarium graminearum. Prosecutors allege she conspired with her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, to bring the fungus into the U.S. Liu was stopped and sent back to China at Detroit’s airport last July when customs officials found suspicious red plant material in his backpack.
FBI investigators say messages between Jian and Liu suggest she was already cultivating the fungus in the lab before Liu’s attempted import. Fusarium graminearum is a well-known threat to crops like wheat, maize, rice, and barley and is nicknamed “vomitoxin” due to its effects on livestock and humans, which include nausea, abdominal pain, and fever.
While the fungus is already present in parts of the U.S., including the Midwest and East Coast, any handling or research involving such organisms requires federal permits. Jian’s legal team declined to comment.
University Responds
The University of Michigan has not been accused of wrongdoing. In a public statement, the university said it had received no funding from the Chinese government related to the scientists’ work. It also emphasized its stance against actions that “seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.”
Legal Context
Bringing foreign biological materials into the U.S. without proper authorization violates federal law and raises both biosecurity and agricultural concerns. While researchers frequently work with such materials, compliance with regulatory protocols is mandatory.
Both Jian and Han will remain behind bars as federal authorities continue to investigate the scope and intent of their actions. Their next court appearances have not yet been scheduled.
