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
According to the most recent version of the Household Food Security Report for 2022-2023, food insecurity is on the rise in the U.S.
Cindy Kovar with AgriSafe joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to talk about road safety and agriculture as we age.
Andy Lee, with GHX Golden Harvest, discusses the mission of the Golden Harvest Experience, which gives farmers a personalized plan for their farm, including predictive seed placement and in-person support.
“The farm economy is, if it isn’t in a crisis, it’s well on its way to one right now.”
Dairy farmers are expected to face strong output and export gains, but lower prices and tighter margins will persist into next year.
With the latest detection just across the border, animal health officials on both sides are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak before it spreads further north.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Colin Reilly with Connected Nation joined RFD-TV News to explain how the tool works and why it’s an important step in bridging the digital divide.
Jeremy Kelly explains how Darling Ingredients’ mission aligns with FFA’s values and why investing in future ag leaders is so important.
Molly Ball joins us to talk about the upcoming FFA Convention & Expo and dish about the latest episode of “Dirt Diaries: The FarmHER + RanchHER Podcast.”
In a final rule published in the Federal Register, the Department states that it will no longer base wage rates on the Farm Labor Survey.
Farmers are in the midst of harvest as the government descends into a shutdown and the Farm Bill expires. Key federal departments, crop reporting, and aid programs important to the agricultural sector are now on hold.
Trump’s upcoming talks raise hopes for U.S. soybeans, but China’s record purchases from Brazil and Argentina show America’s market share remains under heavy pressure.