Two scientists employed at a U.S. government research laboratory have been charged with smuggling deactivated mpox virus samples into the United States from Africa and allegedly making false statements to federal authorities during an airport inspection.
Federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint Tuesday against Vincent Munster, chief of the Virus Ecology Section at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, and his colleague Claude Kwe.
Authorities allege the two researchers attempted to bring vials containing deactivated mpox virus into the United States without declaring them or obtaining the required authorization.
Airport Inspection Leads to Investigation
According to court documents, Munster and Kwe were stopped by customs officials at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in January after returning from a nine-day trip to the Republic of the Congo via Paris.
Investigators said Munster denied carrying biological materials or scientific samples into the country. However, subsequent testing allegedly revealed that the scientists possessed vials containing inactivated mpox virus.
The FBI claims the samples were not declared to customs officials and that the researchers lacked the necessary permits required for transporting biological materials across international borders.
Authorities further allege that Munster falsely assured investigators that any required documentation was stored on his laptop, reportedly telling officers, “I do this all the time.”
Federal investigators contend those statements were materially false.
Public Health and Security Concerns
The case has attracted significant attention because it involves researchers working within the U.S. government’s public health system.
Marcus Sykes of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said that deliberately concealing biological materials from customs authorities represents a serious breach of public trust and could potentially create public health risks.
Officials have emphasized that the charges relate to alleged violations of importation and reporting requirements rather than accusations that the virus itself was active or capable of causing infection.
The samples involved were reportedly deactivated, meaning the virus had been rendered noninfectious.
Researchers With Extensive Mpox Experience
Court filings indicate both scientists have extensive backgrounds studying mpox and other emerging infectious diseases.
Authorities did not specify why the researchers allegedly attempted to transport the samples without authorization, nor did court documents explain what research purpose the materials may have served.
Munster and Kwe are scheduled to appear in federal court in Missoula, Montana.
Understanding Mpox
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the mpox virus. Common symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and a distinctive rash. While most patients recover fully, severe illness can occur in some cases.
The virus was first identified in 1958 during outbreaks among research monkeys, though it primarily circulates among animals and humans in parts of Central and West Africa.
Global awareness of mpox increased dramatically in 2022 when outbreaks spread across more than 70 countries. Researchers confirmed that person-to-person transmission could occur through close physical contact, including sexual contact.
The recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo led to thousands of deaths before health authorities declared the two-year outbreak over in April 2026.