Three Chinese researchers charged with smuggling biological materials into US
Three Chinese researchers affiliated with a University of Michigan laboratory have been indicted for allegedly smuggling biological materials into the United States “under the guise of research.”
They are Xu Bai, 28, Fengfan Zhang, 27, and Zhiyong Zhang, 30, who are facing criminal charges related to an alleged conspiracy to illegally import concealed biological substances related to roundworms.
The materials were not disclosed to the US Customs and Border Protection, thus the charge.
According to the US Department of Justice, the materials were transported through several shipments from a Chinese researcher from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan.
While Bai and Fengfan Zang were charged with smuggling, Zhiyong Zhang’s charge stems from the false statements he had made to a federal agent. All three individuals held a J-1 visa, which is granted to foreign nationals conducting research at a US university.
The Chinese researcher who sent the materials to the US, Chengxuan Han, had been deported from the US before the three were arrested, also for smuggling and making false statements.
Xi, Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang had all been terminated from the University of Michigan following their refusal to participate in a meeting and internal investigation by the US school.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
