FBI arrest another Chinese national with smuggling in biological matter

U.S. Border Patrol has arrested a third Chinese national, they say was responsible for smuggling biological matter into the U.S., specifically nematodes.

The Chinese scientist was taken into custody at the Detroit airport. She is accused of sending biological materials to the University of Michigan, where she was going to study. The FBI says the package contained material related to nematodes and says shipments like that require a permit from the government.

This arrest comes just a week after another researcher at the University of Michigan was taken into custody on similar charges. The FBI says she and her boyfriend smuggled in a fungus that causes head blight in crops, also through the Detroit airport.

Related Stories
Texas A&M economist David Anderson says sharp declines in lamb and mutton production are helping support higher prices.
USDA Undersecretary for Trade Luke Lindberg says expanding export demand is creating new opportunities for U.S. ethanol producers.
More than 500 U.S. counties currently face shortages of large animal veterinarians, according to USDA.
The update comes as congressional leaders continue working toward passage of a new Farm Bill.
Cover crops may improve soil and reduce input needs over time, but producers should budget carefully before expanding acreage.
The report highlighted the role rural development programs play in supporting housing, infrastructure and essential services.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The investigation does not prove wrongdoing, but it raises federal scrutiny of a major cost center for crop producers.
For decades, U.S. agriculture has planned around feeding a growing world. Experts say that trend could reverse course in the next 30 years.
Farm Bureau economist Dr. Faith Parum says agriculture still needs to see U.S. products actively moving into China.
The proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create the nation’s first transcontinental railroad connecting the East and West coasts under a single carrier.