JUST IN: Two NIH Researchers Charged For Allegedly Conspiring To Smuggle Monkeypox Into United States, Justice Department Announces

Two researchers with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory were charged in a “criminal complaint with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and giving false statements to federal law enforcement,” the Justice Department announced.

“A federal complaint alleges that the researchers told Customs and Border Protection (CBP) their case contained diagnostic and testing equipment. However, a investigation by CBP and #FBI agents uncovered 113 vials, 18 of which have been verified to contain monkeypox as of today’s date,” the FBI stated.

“This investigation was conducted by the FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with assistance from the @FBIBillings’ Missoula Resident Agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection team at Detroit Metro Airport, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – OIG,” it added.

NEWS ALERT from @FBIDetroit: Two researchers with the National Institutes of Health were charged with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and giving