Two National Institutes of Health researchers were charged Tuesday with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and making false statements to federal law enforcement, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Vincent Munster, 53, a citizen of the Netherlands and chief of the Virus Ecology Section at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana, and Claude Kwe, 38, a research fellow and citizen of Cameroon, are accused of illegally transporting biological materials while returning from the Republic of Congo.
Both men work in a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory focused on emerging viral pathogens and cross-species transmission.
According to the complaint, Munster and Kwe arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s McNamara Terminal on Jan. 25, 2026, after traveling from Brazzaville, where a monkeypox outbreak was ongoing.
Monkeypox, also known as mpox, is a viral disease that can cause fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers inspected the pair upon arrival and observed them traveling with a large black plastic case.
The men allegedly told officers the case contained diagnostic and testing equipment.
A subsequent investigation by CBP and the FBI found the case instead contained 113 vials stored in Styrofoam coolers.
Federal authorities said testing of 20 vials showed that 17 contained deactivated monkeypox virus, one contained chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA.
Federal officials said the defendants falsely described the case’s contents during questioning at the airport.
Runyan said the allegations involve “dangerous and unlawful smuggling” of viral material and attempts to mislead investigators.
Marcus L. Sykes, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, said the case reflects a “breach of the public’s trust” by individuals entrusted with safeguarding federal programs.
Munster and Kwe each face up to five years in prison if convicted.
The FBI Detroit Field Office is leading the investigation.
A criminal complaint is an allegation and not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.