DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Two Chinese citizens are facing a variety of charges after U.S. attorneys said they tried to smuggle a dangerous fungus into the U.S. under the guise of their work at the University of Michigan.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud.

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The FBI said the fungus Fusarium graminearum is classified “as a potential agroterrorism weapon,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. It causes disease in wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.

If Fusarium graminearum is consumed, it can lead to vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.

United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. called the alleged actions “the  gravest national security concerns.” He continued, “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.”

Jian will appear in federal court in Detroit on Tuesday for her initial appearance on the complaint. The investigation is ongoing.

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