Chinese scientists charged in fungus smuggling brought material into country on prior occasion

The Chinese scientists indicted for smuggling a potentially dangerous fungus into the United States smuggled other biological material by hiding it in a pair of boots on at least one prior occasion, the criminal complaint filed against the couple shows. 

The pair of Chinese-born researchers, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged this week in connection to allegations that they smuggled a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the United States in 2024. That fungus is classified in scientific literature as a “potential agroterrorism weapon,” according to the Justice Department.

But, the government laid out evidence in the indictment that Jian and Liu collaborated in August 2022 to smuggle unknown seeds into the United States, according to messages between the pair on the Chinese messaging application WeChat. 

“Teacher Liang’s seeds must be placed well,” Liu wrote to Jian. 

“Where to put it? I only have one pair of shoes. The insole cannot be pulled off,” she replied.

“Where did the seeds get put? In the tube?” Liu asked later. 

“I put them in my Martin boots… in a small bag. The ziplock bag. Very small,” Jian said. 

“I stuffed them in the shoes," she added later. 

You can read the criminal complaint below: 

Customs and Border Patrol records show Jian entered the country via a flight from Seoul, South Korea, to San Francisco International Airport. The records show that Jian did not declare any biological materials at customs, according to the indictment. 

Both Jian and Liu were charged on Tuesday by the Justice Department for their efforts to smuggle the fungus Fusarium graminearum into the United States in 2024. The pair, who were supposedly dating, allegedly lied to U.S. officials about the fungus in Detroit last year, with Liu stating he did not know how the material ended up in his luggage. He later admitted to putting it in his bag and wrapping it carefully to avoid detection because he knew it was restricted, the department said. 

Jian has also been accused of lying to officials, and her electronics allegedly contained information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. She was also researching the pathogen, Just the News reported on Tuesday. 

The FBI said the fungus causes “head blight,” a disease of wheat, barley, maize and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in global economic losses each year.