U.S. Customs Seizes Courier Carrying Coronavirus Vials from China at Detroit Airport

On November 28, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport intercepted a courier who was carrying vials of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and associated genetic material. The courier, whose name was redacted, had concealed the vials with paper towels and wax film. According to Department of Homeland Security documents released on July 24, the vials were supplied by Yusen Zhou of China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and were intended for Fang Li, a researcher at the University of Minnesota.

Laboratory testing by DHS and the FBI confirmed the presence of PEDV spike protein and partial immunoglobulin RNA. The incident followed prior communications in which Li’s lab offered to send live PEDV to U.S. researcher Ralph Baric and Wuhan Institute virologist Zhengli Shi requested that Li arrange shipment of coronavirus antibodies to China. CBP noted Li’s NIH funding and ties of some collaborators to the Chinese military, raising U.S. national‑security concerns. Neither Li nor CBP responded to requests for comment.