Two Rocky Mountain Laboratories virologists, Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, were charged in Detroit federal court with smuggling deactivated mpox virus vials into the United States and lying to investigators.

The incident centers on their January return from a nine-day trip to the Republic of Congo, arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Paris.

Authorities say the case is part of ongoing investigations by CBP and the FBI, with no further charging updates provided yet.

The defendants are set to appear in federal court in Missoula, Montana, as the investigation is conducted by the FBI and HHS Office of Inspector General, with limited public comment.

The FBI and federal agencies emphasize that researchers are not above the law, detailing collaboration among FBI Detroit JTTF, FBI Missoula, CBP Detroit, and HHS-OIG.

Customs and Border Protection initially found a large black case and believed it contained diagnostics and testing equipment, but the ensuing CBP/FBI investigation uncovered 113 vials packed in Styrofoam coolers.

Initial CBP questioning and statements about the case were contradicted by later investigative findings.

The charges relate to transporting viral pathogens and lying to federal investigators, highlighting biosecurity and the handling of infectious agents.

The case underscores safety, regulatory compliance, and public trust concerns in handling biological materials at government research facilities.

A federal complaint alleges Munster initially denied bringing materials into the U.S., but tests confirmed 113 vials of deactivated mpox; investigators say required entry documents were not presented.

The FBI notes Munster claimed the necessary documents were in his laptop and suggested such materials are routinely smuggled without issue.

FBI testing of 20 of the 113 vials showed 17 with deactivated mpox, one with chickenpox, and two containing human DNA.