ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Federal authorities arrested a Chinese researcher connected to the University of Michigan, marking the third such case in two weeks involving the alleged smuggling of biological materials from China.
Chengxuan Han faces federal charges of smuggling goods into the United States and making false statements, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced Monday (June 9).
According to court documents, Han, a Ph.D. candidate from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, allegedly shipped four packages containing concealed biological material to staff members at a University of Michigan laboratory during 2024 and 2025.
Federal investigators said Han admitted to sending packages containing biological material related to roundworms after questioning at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on June 8.
Customs and Border Protection officers also discovered Han had deleted content from her phone three days before arriving in the United States, according to the criminal complaint.
“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China—to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory—is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security,” Gorgon said.
The case follows last week’s arrest of a couple accused of smuggling dangerous fungus for research at the same university, highlighting increased federal attention on potential research security breaches.
Matthew Schneider, former U.S. Attorney for Michigan’s Eastern District, noted these incidents reflect a longstanding issue.
“Unfortunately, it’s not unusual at all. This has been happening for many, many years. It’s just now that the federal government and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are able to catch some of these people and really start bringing them to justice,” Schneider said.
Schneider also noted that these cases are likely to become more common.
“It’s pretty apparent this is happening more and more. It’s also apparent that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department are stepping up enforcement,” Schneider said. “This is going to continue to happen, and we will be seeing more of these cases for sure.”
FBI Detroit Division Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson emphasized the severity of the allegations.
“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation’s research institutions,” Gibson said.
Han’s case will proceed through federal court, with an upcoming detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
“Dear Colleagues,
As one of the world’s leading research institutions, the University of Michigan plays a pivotal role in saving lives, advancing our understanding of the world, and improving the quality of life for people across our state and nation. This is a place where important, innovative work is done by our community of scholars and researchers.
We have a commitment to groundbreaking research to improve the lives of others. We also have a strong commitment to protect the public and our national security. That’s why the University of Michigan takes seriously its duty and responsibility to comply with all applicable laws and policies. These laws and policies promote safety, protect the public, and ensure national security issues are addressed. We cannot and will not tolerate violations of this responsibility if we truly care about the research enterprise we have built together. For these reasons, compliance with federal regulations and university policies is a requirement, not an option.
Recently, several individuals have been accused of trying to transport materials across international borders in violation of federal laws and U-M policies, and of making false statements to law enforcement. The university takes these situations extremely seriously. That is why the university is:
The work we do here is important. How we do that work is just as important. Each of us has an obligation to ensure that we follow the law and our policies so our work can continue.
I appreciate your commitment to our critical mission and to conducting that work with the integrity and care it demands.
Sincerely, Skip."
University of Michigan