Two NIH researchers have been criminally charged for allegedly smuggling viral material into the United States, accused of bringing 113 vials from an active outbreak and making false statements to federal agents.

Federal prosecutors say Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, both scientists at the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratory, face criminal complaints accusing them of conspiring to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and of lying to federal law enforcement. The complaint names specific roles and details, and it alleges the two brought sealed vials from an active outbreak back into the country without proper authorization. Those are serious federal allegations that triggered a coordinated investigation by multiple agencies.

According to the complaint, Vincent Munster, age 53 and a citizen of the Netherlands, serves as Chief of the Virus Ecology Section in the Laboratory of Virology at Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana. Claude Kwe, age 38 and a citizen of Cameroon, is described as a research fellow in Munster’s section focused on emerging viral pathogens and cross-species transmission. Both men reportedly work in a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, the highest containment level for dangerous human pathogens, which heightens the gravity of the accusations.

The complaint says Munster and Kwe arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s McNamara Terminal on January 25, 2026, having traveled from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where an outbreak of monkeypox was occurring. Monkeypox is an infectious virus that can cause painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fevers and other symptoms, and the complaint ties the travel to active outbreak conditions in that region. Customs and Border Protection screened the travelers on arrival, which set off the chain of events detailed in the filing.

CBP officers reportedly observed Munster and Kwe carrying a large black plastic case, and the pair allegedly told officers the case held diagnostics and testing equipment. Investigators later say the case actually contained Styrofoam coolers filled with 113 vials, a discovery that contradicts the researchers’ stated explanation during the inspection. Those discrepancies are central to the false-statement counts and to the smuggling allegation itself.

United States Attorney Gorgon announced the charges in a public statement and was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Office, Marty Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “These NIH experts apparently broke our laws by smuggling viral pathogens on a packed commercial airplane from an outbreak in the Republic of Congo. Let that sink in,” United States Attorney Gorgon stated.

FBI leadership made the case sound both factual and urgent in public remarks, stressing law enforcement’s role in protecting communities from biological hazards and misuses of research privileges. “No researchers should believe their positions, credentials, or professional status place them above the law,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The allegations in this case are serious. They involve the dangerous and unlawful smuggling of deactivated Mpox virus into the United States and alleged efforts to mislead our federal agents. I am grateful for the outstanding and diligent work of the FBI Detroit JTTF, FBI Billings’ 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, for keeping our communities safe.”

CBP and FBI agents followed up with laboratory testing after securing a sample of the vials, and the complaint reports early forensic results back to investigators. As of the complaint’s date, the FBI tested 20 of the 113 vials and found that 17 contained deactivated monkeypox virus, one contained the Chickenpox virus, and two contained only human DNA. Those preliminary findings shaped how the agencies described the risk and the nature of what was allegedly transported without proper clearance.

HHS-OIG emphasized accountability for anyone entrusted with public health responsibilities, underlining how concealment of biological materials undermines trust and safety. “The arrest of these individuals on serious federal charges sends a clear and unmistakable message that no one—including HHS employees who have an obligation to safeguard our federal programs—is above the law. Any deliberate effort to conceal and smuggle biological materials into the United States without proper authorization is a breach of the public’s trust and could have placed the public at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone who is entrusted with protecting the health and well-being of the public is held fully accountable.”

CBP leadership framed the incident as a border enforcement and public-safety priority, warning that deceptive practices at ports of entry will draw a firm response. “We have zero tolerance for anyone who attempts to exploit our research frameworks, circumvent our border enforcement processes, or deceive investigators,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will remain fiercely vigilant in neutralizing biological threats—or otherwise— and continue to hold accountable those who jeopardize the safety and security of the American people.”

Legally, Munster and Kwe face up to five years in prison under the charges the complaint lists, and the case remains an active criminal investigation conducted by the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Detroit, and HHS-OIG. A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Federal prosecutors will carry the burden of proving the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt as the matter proceeds through the judicial process.