In a plot that reads like a Tom Clancy novel crossed with a dystopian agribusiness nightmare, two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been slapped with federal charges for allegedly smuggling a biological ticking time bomb into the U.S.
The weapon? Fusarium graminearum, a fungus dubbed a “potential agroterrorism weapon” by scientific literature, capable of wreaking havoc on America’s wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops while poisoning humans and livestock with its toxic byproducts.
The stage? Detroit Metropolitan Airport, where Liu’s clumsy attempt to sneak the pathogen past Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers unraveled faster than a cheap yuan store sweater.
The Department of Justice dropped the hammer on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, charging Jian and Liu with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud.