Lacy Really?
According to your link the smuggler first “claimed ignorance about the plant material inside them” and when that did not fly he claimed it was for research.
Changing stories. Evasion and dishonesty.
Since when do “researchers” smuggle in “laboratory samples” hidden in a backpack?
This is not a “paperwork” error. This was willful smuggling of a biological sample in a backpack hoping not to be caught.
A biological sample would be something that would be conspicuously declared and shipped in a properly labeled container.
Yes really. Just because people are dishonest with authorities, doesn’t mean they have insidious intent.
Since when do researches smuggle in labratory samples? Why don’t you ask them? And find out how things are done in the real world, instead of begging the question? As long as we’re speculating about the motives of people, how often do Justice Department officials make bold proclamations over making arrests for self-promotion?
The media is frothing at the mouth over this, but actual expert are unconcerned:
Chinese researchers charged with smuggling potential ‘agroterrorism weapon’ into US
According to the complaint, Liu stated that he planned to clone the different strains of Fusarium graminearum contained on the filter paper and make more samples if the experiments on the reddish plant material failed.
Liu confessed that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials, confirming that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP Officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the U.S.
Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Associate Professor and Field Crop Pathologist Dr. Martin Chilvers said Fusarium graminearum is a global problem, noting occasionally it is helpful to import strains of the fungus from other states or parts of the world to study.
As always, it is important to listen to experts on the topic intead of clickbait.
The fungus is something that is already here. If they wanted to commit an act of bioterrorism, they would have spread it around the US, intsead of bringing labelled samples to a lab that does research in preventing crop disease.
Yes, they did not follow the rules. They should be cited for not following the rules. But, it’s not shocking that people work around red tape and take shortcuts to avoid long processing times.
