Two NIH scientists charged with smuggling deactivated mpox virus into US
6 verified2 unconfirmed
Two scientists at a U.S. government lab have been charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus into the country from Africa and lying to investigators about it. Vincent Munster, chief of the virus ecology section at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, and research fellow Claude Kwe were stopped at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in January after a flight from Paris and a nine‑day trip to the Republic of Congo. The FBI said Munster “adamantly denied” returning with biological materials, but tests later showed the vials were present and had not been declared or properly permitted. Both men are expected to appear in federal court in Missoula, Montana, on Wednesday. Officials stated that concealing biological materials could have placed the public at risk. The court filing did not explain why the scientists may have wanted to bring the deactivated virus to their lab.
What’s verified
Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe were charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus and lying to investigators at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in January.
Munster is chief of the virus ecology section at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana; Kwe works with him as a research fellow.
The two were stopped after a flight from Paris and nine days in the Republic of Congo.
Munster “adamantly denied” returning with biological materials, but tests revealed vials of deactivated mpox virus that had not been declared or permitted.
Marcus Sykes of the HHS Office of Inspector General stated that concealing and smuggling biological materials is a breach of public trust and could have put the public at risk.
The scientists are scheduled to appear in federal court in Missoula, Montana, on Wednesday.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported that an mpox outbreak linked to more than 2,000 deaths in Congo had been declared over in April, but this detail appeared in only one account.
There is no information from the sources about why Munster and Kwe may have wanted to bring the deactivated virus to their lab.
Key figures
Vincent Munster – chief of virus ecology section, Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Claude Kwe – research fellow, Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Marcus Sykes – Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services
Sources: statnews.com, abcnews.com
