US arrests Chinese scientist for smuggling biological material at Detroit airport

By Phan Anh June 10, 2025 | 08:06 pm PT

Biological samples in a petri dish. Illustration photo by Pexels

A Chinese doctoral student from Wuhan has been arrested in the U.S. for allegedly smuggling concealed biological materials tied to roundworm research, a case federal authorities say poses a threat to national security and the integrity of American research.

Chengxuan Han, a PhD candidate at the College of Life Science and Technology under Huazhong University of Science and Technology, was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after landing in Detroit on June 8, NBC News reported.

Authorities say she initially lied to border officials about the contents of four suspicious packages she had shipped to the U.S., claiming they contained plastic cups.

Upon further questioning, she admitted they actually contained biological specimens related to roundworms, Telegraph reported.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that the packages were sent in 2024 and 2025 to individuals affiliated with the University of Michigan.

Han is the third Chinese national in just one week to be charged with smuggling potentially hazardous biological material into the U.S.

In a statement, the FBI said agents discovered that Han had wiped the contents of her electronic devices just three days before arriving in the U.S.

"The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office.

"The FBI has zero tolerance for those who violate federal law."