May 2025: TRUMP PRESIDENCY Justice Department charges Russian Harvard researcher with smuggling biological samples into Boston

Justice Department charges Russian Harvard researcher with smuggling biological samples into Boston
"The Justice Department on Wednesday charged Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova, who is originally from Russia and fled the country in 2022, with smuggling over failing to disclose scientific samples she had in her luggage earlier this year.

The charging documents accuse Petrova of smuggling clawed frog embryos and embryonic samples into the U.S. through Logan International Airport in Boston in February, stating she failed to declare the material and get a permit.
Petrova allegedly told investigators that she was not sure whether she had to declare the material when coming into the U.S. but text messages on her phone revealed a colleague allegedly reminding the scientist to declare them.
"If you bring samples or antibody back, make sure you get the permission etc,'" one text message read. “What is your plan to pass the American Customs with samples? This is the most delicate place of the trajectory.”
Petrova admitted to the colleague that she did not have a plan for getting the material into the U.S. because she could not "swallow" the samples." JustNews