US authorities have apprehended another Chinese scientist for allegedly smuggling illegal biological material into the country. Chengxuan Han was taken into custody at Detroit Metropolitan airport after arriving on a flight from Shanghai. She has been charged with smuggling goods into the US and providing false information to federal agents.

Han is accused of sending biological material to a laboratory at the University of Michigan several months ago. The FBI described the material as related to specific worms that require a government permit for transportation.

Currently pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Han had planned to work on a project at the University of Michigan for a year.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “Yesterday, Detroit arrested a second Chinese national for smuggling biological materials and lying to federal agents. Chengxuan Han, a Ph.D. student from Wuhan, China, allegedly made false statements upon her arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on June 8, and had recently erased data from her electronic device.”

Last week, two Chinese scientists were charged with attempting to smuggle a toxic fungus into the US. One was turned away at Detroit airport last year, while the other, a University of Michigan researcher, was arrested and remains in custody.

John Nowak, from US Customs and Border Protection, emphasized the strict guidelines for importing biological materials for research purposes and condemned actions like these that undermine the work of legitimate visiting scholars.

Authorities intercepted and examined Han's shipments, including an envelope concealed within a book, both last year and earlier this year. While the FBI did not specify the hazardous nature of the biological material, US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. warned that the smuggling attempt poses a threat to national security.