Indiana University Lab Locked Down Amid Federal Smuggling Investigation
Indiana University Bloomington's biology lab has been locked down following a federal investigation into alleged smuggling of biological samples. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are scrutinizing the lab of Roger Innes, a plant microbiologist, after a postdoctoral fellow, Youhuang Xiang, was arrested for importing biological samples from China without declaration. The university changed the locks on the biology building, restricting access to researchers, although some access has been restored. The USDA has denied ordering the lockdown, stating that their notice only prohibited moving samples. Innes and his team are preparing for a USDA inspection by labeling all biological samples. The investigation is part of a broader crackdown by the U.S. government on scientists, particularly Chinese nationals, accused of smuggling biological materials. 
