Chinese Scholar Sentenced for Smuggling Biological Materials into U.S.

Chengxuan Han, a Chinese national and Ph.D. student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, was sentenced to time served, equivalent to three months in custody, for smuggling biological materials related to roundworms into the United States and making false statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Han sent multiple mislabeled packages to associates at a University of Michigan laboratory in 2024 and 2025, and upon arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in June 2025, she initially lied about the shipments before admitting to the FBI and ICE agents. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. emphasized that studying at elite American institutions is a privilege that should not be abused by smuggling unknown biomaterials, and Han will be deported and barred from reentering the U.S. FBI and ICE officials highlighted the importance of federal collaboration in protecting the country from illegal biological imports. Han expressed remorse during sentencing, stating she had no intention to harm anyone or create a security hazard, though she maintained her innocence while pleading no contest. This case is part of broader federal efforts targeting Chinese nationals involved in smuggling biological materials into the U.S.