NIH Researchers Face Charges for Smuggling Mpox Virus Samples into the US
NIH researchers charged with attempting to smuggle vials of mpox virus into the US
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Two National Institutes of Health researchers, Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, have been charged with attempting to smuggle deactivated mpox virus samples into the United States. They allegedly made false statements to authorities upon arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from the Republic of Congo, where an outbreak was occurring.
- 01Vincent Munster, 53, from the Netherlands, and Claude Kwe, 38, from Cameroon, worked at the NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratory.
- 02The laboratory operates at Biosafety Level 4, the highest safety level for handling dangerous pathogens.
- 03The researchers were found with 113 vials, 17 of which contained deactivated mpox virus.
- 04If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for their actions.
- 05The incident raises concerns about public safety and the integrity of federal health programs.
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Two researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, have been charged with conspiracy to smuggle deactivated mpox virus samples into the United States. The charges arise from an incident on January 25, 2026, when they arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after traveling from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where a mpox outbreak was reported. Customs officers discovered that the researchers had falsely claimed their large black case contained diagnostic equipment, when in fact it held 113 vials, with 17 containing the deactivated virus. The NIH laboratory where they worked is known for high-level biosafety research. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating that such actions breach public trust and could pose risks to safety. Both researchers face up to five years in prison if convicted.
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The case raises significant concerns regarding public safety and the handling of dangerous pathogens.
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