US Scientists Accused of Smuggling Monkeypox Virus, Lying to Authorities

Two scientists working for the U.S. government have been charged with smuggling vials containing a deactivated monkeypox virus from Africa into the United States. Federal prosecutors in Detroit have accused Vincent Munster, head of the Virus Ecology Unit at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, and his colleague Claude Kwe of lying to investigators during an inspection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in January.

“

Any intentional attempt to conceal and smuggle biological material into the United States without proper authorization represents a breach of public trust and could have jeopardized public safety.

The pair were stopped after returning from a trip to the Republic of Congo, a region that experienced a significant mpox outbreak. According to the FBI, Munster initially denied carrying any biological material. However, subsequent tests confirmed that both scientists had the deactivated mpox virus vials with them. They had not declared the material to customs officials nor obtained the necessary permits for its transport.

“

But you don't need it. I do this all the time.

"Any intentional attempt to conceal and smuggle biological material into the United States without proper authorization represents a breach of public trust and could have jeopardized public safety," stated Markus Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which oversees the laboratory, confirmed it is cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies. The specific reasons for transporting the deactivated virus remain unclear, but both scientists are known to be virologists actively researching the virus.

“

There are reasonable grounds to believe that Munster's statements to customs officials regarding possession of the necessary documentation were substantially false.