Two Illegal Biolabs Reveal Gaps in U.S. Biosecurity -- Lawfare

[erronis]

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/two-illegal-biolabs-reveal-gaps-in-u.s.-biosecurity
Sam Howell

The discovery of CCP-linked biolabs on American soil exposes major biosecurity gaps. Policymakers must act to improve oversight of biological research activity.

This seems much more than biochemical espionage --- think warfare.

Last month, law enforcement officials launched an investigation into a suspected biolab in the Las Vegas home of Chinese national Zhu Jia Bei. Two years prior, Zhu had been arrested and indicted for his involvement with a similarly unauthorized biolab in Reedley, California. He also maintains extensive connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Zhu may not be alone: CCP-linked biolabs on American soil raise serious concerns about foreign surveillance, intellectual property theft, and deliberate threats to public health and national security.

Zhu's story brings to light an uncomfortable truth: U.S. policymakers seem to have little understanding of how many unauthorized biolabs are operating in the United States. They are unprepared to counter the biological hazards such labs may produce, putting Americans' safety at risk. Policymakers must take immediate action to protect Americans and strengthen federal oversight of unauthorized biological research activity.

The Las Vegas and Reedley Labs

Local officials discovered the Las Vegas biolab after several visitors to the home reported becoming "deathly ill." Upon arrival at the scene, investigators found "evidence of possible biological material," including refrigerators containing vials with unknown liquids and "laboratory-type equipment." Investigators collected and sent over 1,000 samples to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center for further testing. In March 2026, the FBI announced that many materials had "significantly degraded after being stored improperly," limiting the ability to "definitively determine" which biological agents were present.

The property was owned by Zhu, who had owned and operated a similar unauthorized biolab in Reedley, California, which local officials discovered by happenstance in December 2022. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inquiry into the Reedley warehouse identified at least 20 infectious pathogenic agents--including HIV, tuberculosis, and the deadliest form of malaria--as well as a freezer labeled "Ebola" and several vials of suspicious liquid labeled in code. Zhu also used the lab to package counterfeit pregnancy, urine, and COVID-19 tests.

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[mike_c]

1. interesting-- I'm assuming home labs are not too uncommon

We've churned out lots of biology and related science grads in the last few decades, some of whom probably do it as a hobby. MAKE magazine did an issue several years ago about home biological culture, biochemistry, and molecular genetics. I'm a retired biologist and have a modest home lab. There is at least one FB group that focuses on home labs. There's also a person out there posting progress on building an electron microscope at home. I don't do much wet lab work, e.g. genetics or microbiology, but I have lots of lab glassware, petri dishes, culture media, and so on that would titillate the imagination of law enforcement, lol.

[erronis]

2. The chemicals and agents found at this chap's home(s) aren't the same as your leftover chem. lab stuff.

[mike_c]

3. yeah, I'm not equipped for microbiology...

...pathogens, etc. I do some fungal culture though. I wonder how common that sort of thing is.

[mr715]

4. Like a freezer labeled "Ebola"?

I admit I had quite a collection of chemistry curios, but I don't know where I'd get my hands on biosafety 4 viral samples.

Or I'd rather not think too hard about it because it is scary that it apparently happens.