A Chinese researcher and visa holder has been charged with smuggling E. coli into the United States and lying to Customs and Border Protection about it, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Friday.
The researcher was identified as Youhuang Xiang, who was a postdoctoral fellow at Indiana University Bloomington. His name appears to have been scrubbed from the university’s webpage dedicated to research associates and postdoctoral researchers.
The Chinese national’s ties to the school are documented by the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.
“This is yet another example of a researcher from China — given the privilege to work at a U.S. university — who then allegedly chose to take part in a scheme to circumvent U.S. laws and receive biological materials hidden in a package originating from China,” Patel said on X.
“If not properly controlled, E. coli and other biological materials could inflict devastating disease to U.S. crops and cause significant financial loss to the U.S. economy,” the FBI director warned.
The Food and Drug Administration says certain types of E. coli can be life-threatening, leading to kidney failure or the development of high blood pressure, in addition to contaminating meat and crops.
Last month, federal authorities foiled an attempt by three Chinese nationals to smuggle biological materials related to roundworms. The charged trio was conducting research at the University of Michigan when they smuggled biological materials into the country.
Patel advised universities and their compliance departments to remain “vigilant” of the trend.
“Ensure your researchers know that there is a correct and legal way to obtain a license to import/export approved biological materials, and it must be followed without exception,” he said. “Our continued partnerships will help to better secure our nation and ensure all parties are held accountable.”
CHINESE SCIENTIST TO BE DEPORTED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN FUNGUS SMUGGLING CASE
The FBI field offices in Indianapolis and Chicago worked with CBP on the latest case.
The Washington Examiner contacted Indiana University for comment on Patel’s statement.