WASHINGTON, D.C. - On February 1, FBI agents searched a Las Vegas home
following a code violation call and discovered vials containing unknown
substances suspected to be part of an illegal biological lab operation.
The property owner, a Chinese national arrested in 2023 for smuggling
Fusarium graminearum - a potential agroterrorism fungus - remains in jail
after pleading not guilty.
During the search, a property manager
at the location was arrested. The lab allegedly contained thousands of
samples labeled as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and Ebola, and
received funding from Chinese banks.
This incident follows a 2023
case in Reedley, California, prompting Congressman Kevin Kiley to call
for hearings on legislation addressing unregulated facilities.
The
Las Vegas investigation escalated when authorities suspected illegal
medical-type biological research materials, leading the Joint Terrorism
Task Force to take over. Materials in vials were removed and are being
transported to a secure county health facility for testing to determine
their nature and potential harm.
No immediate danger has been identified, and searches of 20 additional locations have found nothing concerning so far.
NORFOLK - Naval Station Norfolk, the U.S. Navy installation on Sewell’s Point that Navy Region Mid-Atlantic describes as the largest naval complex in the world, stated on September 1 that it had put in place increased security measures and changed how people enter the base.
EASTERN PACIFIC - U.S. Marines and Sailors launched from the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17) boarded, searched, and cleared a vessel in international waters on August 28, then sank it after removing those aboard, U.S. Southern Command said.
SOUTHERN BORDER - On August 27 U.S. Southern Command reported that Joint Task Force-Southern Border personnel used the Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) during the late-night hours of August 25 and 26 against three unmanned aircraft the command called hostile and cartel-linked.
WASHINGTON - The National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency released joint Cybersecurity Advisory AA26-231A on August 19, warning of an active cyber threat to Siemens S7 Series p
