The Brief

(FOX 2) - Two Chinese citizens have been charged in connection with attempting to smuggle a form of fungus that is classified as a "potential agroterrorism weapon."

The pathogen was allegedly brought through Detroit Metro Airport, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit said .

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Two citizens of China, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged with conspiracy to smuggle goods into the U.S., as well as making false statements and visa fraud.

They were named in a criminal complaint that was unsealed Tuesday after their arrest by the FBI. The U.S. attorney says Jian was employed by the University of Michigan and that her boyfriend, Liu had attempted to bring the pathogen into the U.S. so he could conduct research at one of the school's laboratories.

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