Chinese Nationals Caught Smuggling Crop Killing Fungus: Kash Patel Calls It a National Security Threat

In a shocking development, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested two Chinese nationals in the United States for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen, raising serious concerns about food security and national safety.

The accused, identified as Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged with conspiracy, smuggling, visa fraud, and making false statements, according to a statement released by FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday night.

The pathogen in question, Fusarium graminearum, is a toxic fungus known to cause head blight—a devastating disease affecting major crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. This fungus not only destroys crops but also produces mycotoxins that can cause severe health issues in humans and livestock, including vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects.

Experts estimate that Fusarium graminearum leads to billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year, making it a potential agroterrorism weapon. A 2021 study published in Frontiers highlighted its interactions with the cereal microbiome, noting its ability to survive on crop residues and spread through air over long distances.

Jian, a research scholar at the University of Michigan, and Liu, her boyfriend who works at a Chinese university, allegedly smuggled the fungus into the US through Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The FBI revealed that Jian had expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and received funding from the Chinese government for similar pathogen research in China.

Liu, who initially denied the allegations, later admitted to smuggling the fungus to conduct research at the same university. The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI’s Detroit division and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), uncovered the couple’s plan to use the university’s laboratory, which was not equipped to handle biohazards, for their research.

“This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply,” Patel said in his statement on X.

He described the smuggling of an agroterrorism agent as a “direct threat to national security,” warning that such actions could cripple the US economy and endanger American lives.

Patel commended the FBI Detroit team and CBP for their swift action in stopping the biological threat.The arrests have sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Americans expressing alarm over foreign researchers’ access to sensitive US institutions.

This incident comes amid strained US-China relations, with the Trump administration recently announcing plans to “aggressively” revoke visas for Chinese students in critical fields.

A 2025 Washington Post report noted the challenges in vetting Chinese students due to their large numbers and the murky ties between Chinese universities and the state. The arrests also revive discussions on reinstating the China Initiative, a Department of Justice programme aimed at countering Chinese espionage in academia.