U.S. authorities arrested Chengxuan Han, a Chinese doctoral student at Huazhong University, for allegedly smuggling biological materials into the United States, marking the second such arrest in days. The FBI’s complaint states that Han sent four shipments containing concealed biological materials, specifically related to roundworms, to the University of Michigan, where she intended to conduct research. These materials were reportedly hidden between the pages of a book and required a government permit for transport. Upon her arrival in Detroit from Shanghai, Han allegedly made false statements about these shipments to federal agents.
This incident follows the arrest of two other Chinese nationals last week, one of whom tried to smuggle a toxic fungus into the U.S. for similar research at the University of Michigan. While one of the individuals remains in custody, the other was denied entry last year and is still at large. The complaint against Han notes suspicious behavior, including her deleting the contents of her electronic device just days before arriving in the U.S., claiming she wanted to “start fresh.”
Experts, such as biologist Michael Shapira, commented that while the biological material in question may not seem dangerous, there are strict regulations governing its transport. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to inquiries regarding these incidents, but a spokesperson from China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry emphasized the importance of abiding by local laws for Chinese citizens abroad. The University of Michigan has stated it is cooperating with federal law enforcement and condemns actions that threaten national security or public safety. Han is currently in custody, awaiting a bond hearing.
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