U.S. authorities arrested Chengxuan Han, a Chinese researcher, for allegedly smuggling biological material into the country. Han, a doctoral student from Huazhong University in Wuhan, was apprehended at Detroit airport after sending four shipments from China to a lab at the University of Michigan. These shipments contained concealed biological material related to roundworms, which required a government permit. When questioned by federal agents, Han reportedly made false statements about the shipments and deleted data from her electronic device shortly before her arrival in the U.S., claiming it was to “start fresh.”
This incident marks the second case involving Chinese nationals accused of smuggling biological materials, following the charges laid against two others last week for attempting to import toxic fungus for research at the same university. One of those individuals, a university researcher, remains in custody, while the other was denied entry and is at large.
Experts note that while the materials Han is accused of smuggling are not inherently dangerous, strict regulations govern the shipment of biological materials. The University of Michigan has stated that it is cooperating with federal authorities and condemned actions that threaten national security.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not commented on Han’s situation, but a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry emphasized the importance for Chinese citizens abroad to abide by local laws while protecting their rights. Han is currently in custody, awaiting a bond hearing.
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