FBI warned about 'biosecurity risk' after Chinese nationals snuck suspicious vials into US

by Jerry Dunleavy
| April 01, 2020 06:21 PM
News from Washington Examiner

An intelligence bulletin from the FBI late last year warned of a growing "biosecurity" threat within the United States after Chinese nationals were caught attempting to sneak potentially dangerous viruses into the country by plane.

The “tactical intelligence report” from the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate assessed in November that “foreign scientific researchers who transport undeclared and undocumented biological materials into the U.S. in personal carry-on and/or checked luggage almost certainly present U.S. biosecurity and biosafety risks,” according to the unclassified document obtained by Yahoo News.

Even when these samples were declared, investigators warned, "It is impossible to determine, without testing, the validity of the contents of the samples and if they pose a risk to U.S. human, animal, or plant populations.”

The bureau’s Chemical and Biological Intelligence Unit pointed to at least three separate instances in 2018 and 2019-- excerpt, rest at link above --