'Agroterrorism' fungus was first smuggled into US in 2022 inside Chinese national's boots

Two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous fungus into the United States in a possible act of “agroterrorism” began doing so in 2022, according to an affidavit.

U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. charged Chinese citizens and Michigan University researchers Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., false statements, and visa fraud, the Department of Justice announced. The duo smuggled Fusarium graminearum, a fungus the DOJ notes is classified by scientific literature as a “potential agroterrorism weapon.”