Two Chinese nationals have been charged for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen

BREAKING: Two Chinese nationals have been charged for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the U.S. called “Fusarium graminearum” that could cripple the U.S. economy, food supply, and endanger American lives.

The FBI arrested Yunqing Jian (33) and Zunyong Liu (34) for allegedly smuggling the noxious fungus into the U.S. that “causes ‘head blight,’ a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year,” according to the DOJ.

Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.

FBI Director Kash Patel: “This case is a sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives.”

“Smuggling a known agroterrorism agent into the U.S. is not just a violation of law, it's a direct threat to national security. I commend the FBI Detroit Division and our partners at CBP for stopping this biological threat before it could do real damage.”