{"id":105119,"date":"2026-06-14T19:05:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T23:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/?p=105119"},"modified":"2026-06-14T19:05:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T23:05:25","slug":"nih-virologists-attempted-virus-smuggling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/?p=105119","title":{"rendered":"NIH Virologists Attempted Virus Smuggling"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"virologists\"
Image Courtesy of Josh Schwartzman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two virologists have been brought up on federal charges, sparking a public outcry about NIH researchers being targeted by President Donald J. Trump\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the charges last week against virologists Vincent Munster, PhD, and Claude Kwe, PhD, for allegedly transporting undeclared inactivated mpox (monkeypox) virus on a flight to the U.S. They are also accused of making false statements to federal law enforcement officials about the act.<\/p>\n

The Criminal Complaint Against Virologists<\/h2>\n

The charges allege \u201cnon-compliance with NIH policy on the importation of biological materials. Personal, civil and criminal penalties have been established for willful violation of regulations related to biological transport.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DOJ asserts the virologists face up to five years in prison.<\/p>\n

The complaint says \u201cguidance permits non-infectious biological material to be hand-carried on aircraft, though the NIH does not recommend or encourage this practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNIH staff who intend to do so must adhere to specific requirements related to foreign import and customs requirements, declaration of materials, proper packaging and marking of materials, pre-arranged screening with the Transportation Security Administration, written approval from airlines, and obtainment of a transfer certificate,\u201d the complaint continues.<\/p>\n

President of ABSA International, the Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity, Anne-Sophie Brocard, PhD, says, \u201cI cannot comment on the specifics of this case, but ABSA has long supported research standards and laboratory protocols that keep researchers, their staff and the public safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the charges were brought against the researchers, other virologists have expressed concerns, suggesting they reflect a pattern of targeted scientists and virologists under the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is extremely chilling \u2014 virologists being targeted for what appears to be minor (if any) \u2018offenses,’\u201d says Kristian Anderson, PhD, an evolutionary virologist at Scripps Research.<\/p>\n

He noted that the \u201cinactivated samples in question are \u2018harmless\u2019 and very specifically \u2014 such samples do not contain the virus itself. It is nothing more than a soup of nucleotides, proteins, and whatever else may be in an inactivated sample taken from humans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs for the \u2018lying\u2019 part, I can\u2019t speak to that as I was not in the room; however, as I will outline, this part is likely due to misunderstandings and down to the fact that the investigators seem very familiar with how research is done,\u201d added Anderson.<\/p>\n

Virologist Angela Rasmussen, PhD, at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, told\u00a0Science\u00a0<\/em>that \u201cinactivated monkeypox viruses routinely are used as a control in diagnostic tests or to develop the assays.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continues, \u201cStepping up to fight outbreaks of the world\u2019s deadliest emerging viruses doesn\u2019t count for much these days if you\u2019re a politically useful target. To my colleagues my fellow Americans: now it\u2019s Vincent Kwe. Next maybe it\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Munster, 53, is a citizen of the Netherlands and head of the Virus Ecology Section at the NIH\u2019s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana. Kwe is a citizen of Cameroon and a research fellow in Munster\u2019s section.<\/p>\n

Recently, RMY came under fire from an animal rights group and Make America Great Again influencer Laura Loomer when a monkey with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever allegedly bit a scientist in Detroit a week ago.<\/p>\n

Legal counsel for Kwe says that \u201cat this point, our only statement is that Mr. Kwe is presumed innocent and we will await future proceedings before commenting further.\u201d<\/p>\n

Munster\u2019s legal counsel declined to comment.<\/p>\n

Previous DOJ Charges<\/h3>\n

In April, the DOJ announced charges against a top aide to Anthony Fauci, MD, at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. According to the indictment, David Morens, MD, was charged with multiple federal crimes for \u201cusing his private email to evade Freedom of Information Act requests related to discussions on bat coronavirus research grants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeremy Berg, PhD, a former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, told MedPage Today\u00a0<\/em>that even though \u201cit wasn\u2019t good form for Morens to put in writing his request to shift to personal email, the prosecution seemed excessive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rocky Mountain Laboratories<\/h4>\n

RML began in Hamilton, Montana in 1900 when settlers were dying from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and the facility continues to wrangle with biological and human disease.<\/p>\n

In the latest controversy, on top of the accusations from an animal advocacy group called White Coat Waste Project Inc., which published an \u201cexclusive whistleblower report\u201d accusing the facility of \u201ccovering up accidents involving exposure to dangerous pathogens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The accusations have caught the attention of congressional Republicans, including Montana Senator Tim Sheehy, and highlighted a larger debate over animal research amid deep political polarization amid an Ebola outbreak and the hantavirus infection. These combined outbreaks have reportedly killed hundreds.<\/p>\n

White Coat Waste is a registered nonprofit. In addition to its campaign against RML, it claims credit for pushing multiple measures against federal lab testing on animals in the 2026 Farm Bill. The bill cut funding for animal testing collaborations with Russia, China, and other countries. Among its past accomplishments are the defunding of dog research by the Department of Veterans Affairs labs and a monkey nicotine addiction project conducted by the Food and Drug Administration.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Jerome E. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan announced that Munster and Kwe were stopped on Jan. 25, 2025, in Detroit on a flight from the Republic of Congo. Customs and Border Patrol officers discovered a large black plastic case among their luggage which allegedly contained diagnostics and testing equipment, according to a June 2 press release from the DOJ.<\/p>\n

Both Munster and Kwe work in the Emerging Viral Pathogens section of RML\u2019s Biosafety Level 4 lab. The DOJ describes the lab as having \u201cthe highest level of biosafety precautions for scientific research of known and potential human pathogens.\u201d It specializes in studying and discovering treatments for contagious and deadly diseases.<\/p>\n

The DOJ says the virologists were carrying a cooler with 113 vials. According to tests conducted by the FBI, 17 of the 20 vials tested contained deactivated mpox virus, one contained chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA.<\/p>\n

It is important to note that mpox is not fatal but does cause flu-like symptoms and a painful rash.<\/p>\n

Gargon says, \u201cThese NIH experts apparently broke our laws by smuggling viral pathogens on a packed commercial airplane from an outbreak in the Republic of Congo.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April, it was announced the mpox outbreak in the Republic of Congo was contained after two years.<\/p>\n

The release does not say if the virologists are still in custody or when they are due to appear in court, but says they are innocent until proven guilty.<\/p>\n

Marty Raybon, director of Customs and Border Patrol Field Operations, says, \u201cWe will remain fiercely vigilant in neutralizing biological threats \u2014 or otherwise \u2014 and continue to hold accountable those who jeopardize the safety and security of the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the 2020 COVID pandemic, suspicions remain high that government virologists are either carelessly or deliberately playing with deadly diseases for unknown and possibly evil purposes.<\/p>\n

RML asserts they have spent years building trust in the community and are handling dangerous pathogens to help the public, not cause it harm.<\/p>\n

Spokeswoman for White Coat Waste, Karen Lapizco, emailed Mojo <\/em>on May 13 with \u201cmajor WCW scoops.\u201d The email included claims that the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed that the FBI was investigating Munster for the possible smuggling of hazardous samples from Africa to Montana. It stated that in November, another lab worker was exposed to Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever via a monkey bite and was airlifted to a \u201cdistant location\u201d for treatment. Also, it said in February, a RML staff member had an incident with a \u201cselect agent,\u201d which is the technical term for a dangerous pathogen.<\/p>\n

Senior Vice President for White Coat Waste Justin Goodman told\u00a0Mojo <\/em>on Wednesday, \u201cIt\u2019s caused a lot of alarm in Congress that [the National Institutes of Health] was not transparent about those accidents. Lawmakers are also concerned that international smuggling was brushed under the rug by NIH leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

On May 26, Sheehy wrote to Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell to request more information about these incidents and the \u201crisks posed by potentially rogue scientists.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wrote: \u201cIt is critical that scientists, especially those with foreign connections, are thoroughly vetted given the potentially catastrophic impacts of their work on our nation\u2019s health and security.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, RML shared a statement from the NIH about the arrests of Munster and Kwe that stated it would not offer additional details but that \u201cNIH took appropriate actions and confirmed there was no risk to staff or the surrounding community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also want to reaffirm NIH\u2019s expectations regarding the handling, transport, storage, documentation, and stewardship of research materials and biological samples. All staff are responsible for understanding and complying with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing these activities. Maintaining public trust in our work requires a shared commitment to accountability, transparency, and strict adherence to established biosafety and biosecurity requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/p>\n

MedPage Today:\u00a0<\/strong>Scientists Call Charges Against NIH Virologists \u2018Chilling\u2019
\nMilitary.com:\u00a0<\/strong>Exclusive: Senator Targets NIH Bio-Smuggling Loophole in Mandatory Prison Bill
\nThe Daily Beast:\u00a0<\/strong>Deadly Virus Found in Luggage at U.S. Airport<\/p>\n

Featured Image Courtesy of Josh Schwartzman\u2019s Flickr Page \u2013 Creative Commons License<\/p>\n

\n

Discover more from Guardian Liberty Voice<\/h3>\n

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Image Courtesy of Josh Schwartzman Two virologists have been brought up on federal charges, sparking a public outcry about NIH researchers being targeted by President Donald J. Trump\u2019s administration. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the charges last week against virologists Vincent Munster, PhD, and Claude Kwe, PhD, for allegedly transporting undeclared inactivated mpox […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":105120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105119"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=105119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105119\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/105120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=105119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=105119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adviews.info\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=105119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}