LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Two Chinese researchers have been charged with smuggling a fungus known to be a "potential agroterrorism weapon" into the U.S. with the alleged intent of studying it at the University of Michigan, authorities said Tuesday.

Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People's Republic of China, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said in a release.

Jian was taken into federal custody in Detroit while Liu is believed to be in China.

Liu, according to a criminal complaint, initially lied about why the fungus, Fusarium graminearum, was brought into the U.S. He later admitted to smuggling the fungus to research it at a laboratory at the University of

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