Two National Institutes of Health scientists, Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, were arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Jan. 25, 2026, after customs officials discovered 113 vials of biological material, including deactivated monkeypox virus. The federal complaint alleges they conspired to smuggle the samples and later lied to investigators.

113 Vials Hidden in a Black Plastic Case at Detroit’s McNamara Terminal

Customs and Border Protection officers spotted the pair with a black plastic case and, after questioning, found the case contained styrofoam coolers holding 113 vials. The FBI tested 20 of those vials; 17 contained deactivated monkeypox virus, one held chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Munster’s Role at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories Raises Security Concerns

Vincent Munster, a Dutch citizen, is listed on LinkedIn as chief of the Virus Ecology Section at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories, where he studies high‑continment pathogens such as filoviruses and coronaviruses. His résumé includes work on MERS, Ebola,COVID‑19 and the 2022 mpox outbreak, making the alleged breach particularly alarming, the Justice Department noted.

From Brazzaville to Detroit: The Flight Path of the Smuggled Samples

The researchers traveled from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where a monkeypox outbreak was ongoing, directly to Detroit. Upon arrival, they told CBP agents the case held “diagnostic and testing equipment,” a claim later disproved when agents opened the cooler, according to FBI statements.

Legal Fallout: Charges, Sentences and Unresolved Leads

Munster and Kwe face charges of conspiracy to smuggle biological agents and making false statements. A related case saw Yunqing Jian sentenced to time served and deported to China, while her alleged accomplice Zunyong Liu remains at large after being denied entry to the United States.

Who Else Might Be Involved? Unanswered Links to Prior Research Trips

Investigators have not disclosed whether other NIH staff traveled with the scientists or if the vials were part of a sanctioned research project. The Justice Department has not confirmed if any institutional approvals were sought, leaving a gap in the narrative that could affect future biosafety protocols.