Woman in Wuhan Risks 25 Years in Prison for Smuggling Ringworms to University of Michigan Lab

A Chinese national, Chengxuan Han, recently pleaded guilty to smuggling biological materials into the U.S. and making false statements to customs officials. Han, a Ph.D. student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, sent packages containing these materials to the University of Michigan, where she was a visiting fellow.

According to U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, Han smuggled materials, including roundworms, on multiple occasions. During one instance, she claimed she was sending “a fun letter.” Han arrived in Detroit on a J1 visa in 2025 but misled officials during inspections about her shipments. She later admitted to the FBI and ICE agents that her statements to customs were false.

Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Detroit, emphasized that smuggling biological materials poses a significant risk to public safety. The FBI is committed to protecting national security and monitoring such threats.

Han now faces up to 25 years in prison for her actions. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 10. This case highlights a growing concern about foreign actors using educational institutions for illicit activities. In a similar incident, two other Chinese nationals were charged for smuggling fungus into the U.S. for research purposes at the same university.

This situation raises questions about the security measures in place at educational institutions and the vetting process for international scholars. Recent discussions on social media reflect a mix of concern and curiosity regarding the implications of these cases. As experts continue to weigh in, the importance of safeguarding national and public safety remains a priority.



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Wuhan,Ringworms,Smuggling,University of Michigan,Biological materials,False statements,Federal agents,National security