Rand Paul Releases 2018 CBP Seizures of Undeclared US-China Biological Materials
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 24
Rand Paul Releases 2018 CBP Seizures of Undeclared US-China Biological Materials
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 24
Summary
2018 border records released by Sen. Rand Paul show CBP intercepted undeclared biological materials linked to a U.S.-China coronavirus research network centered on University of Minnesota virologist Fang Li.
The documents suggest researchers tried to move materials outside normal channels to avoid U.S.-China tensions and regulatory scrutiny, including an April 2018 request to carry SARS antibodies from the United States to China.
November 2018 brought a Detroit airport seizure of three undeclared vials hidden in paper towels and wax film; the courier identified Yusen Zhou of China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences as the source.
That same courier was stopped again in June 2021 at Detroit carrying 132 vials and another person's laptop and login credentials, with CBP saying the vials likely held a fly species used in research.
Paul, now chairing the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the release adds to earlier document batches on private lab-leak doubts and a halted border inspection of another virus researcher.