'Threat To National Security': Chinese Couple Arrested By FBI For Smuggling Fungus Into US

A Chinese couple was arrested in the United States for allegedly smuggling a “dangerous biological pathogen" that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon in the country, informed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel on Wednesday. The FBI director stated that the individual, identified as Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus, which is an agroterrorism agent, into the US for research at the University of Michigan. Her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, who works at a university in China, was also named in the complaint and faces charges.

“This case is a sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives," FBI Director Kash Patel was quoted as saying by Fox News.

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“Smuggling a known agroterrorism agent into the US is not just a violation of law, it’s a direct threat to national security. I commend the FBI Detroit Division and our partners at CBP for stopping this biological threat before it could do real damage," Patel added.

The pathogen has been identified by the US Department of Justice. It is a fungus known as Fusarium graminearum. The pathogen is classified in scientific literature as a potential ‘agroterrorism weapon’.

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Patel said, “This fungus can cause a disease called "head blight," a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, causing significant health issues in both humans and livestock,” adding that it is “responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.”