Researcher arrested for smuggling attempt
A Canadian researcher headed for a job in Maryland has been arrested for attempting to bring biological material into the United States without a permit. Authorities said the material appears to be harmless.
GRAND FORKS (AP) — A Canadian researcher headed for a job in Maryland has been arrested for attempting to bring biological material into the United States without a permit. Authorities said the material appears to be harmless.
Konan Michael Yao is charged with smuggling merchandise. Authorities said he tried to sneak 22 vials of the substance into the country at the Pembina port of entry in North Dakota. Authorities wouldn’t say what the substance was.
Authorities said the 42-year-old Yao has been working on a vaccine for the Ebola virus and HIV. Court documents said Yao told officers he stole the vials from a government lab in Winnipeg so he wouldn’t have to start over on his research.
Yao’s public defender did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Tags: courts and crime, news, smuggling
More from around the web
RSS Feeds