A Chinese national was detained at a Texas airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle confidential cancer research to China, according to authorities. Yunhai Li, a 35-year-old researcher employed by the MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2022, was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on July 9. During an inspection of his belongings, agents discovered sensitive medical information linked to cancer research.

Li was charged with theft of trade secrets and tampering with a government record. Court documents revealed he had uploaded restricted data to his personal Google Drive account while working at the center. When confronted by MD Anderson, Li deleted the files but also transferred them to a Chinese-based file-hosting service. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, was reportedly under U.S. government protection.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office stated Li was on a nonimmigrant research scholar exchange visa. Authorities emphasized the stolen data could jeopardize critical scientific advancements. Li faces up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

This case follows another incident in July, where a Chinese national was accused of hacking U.S. universities to steal COVID-19 research. The alleged thefts have raised concerns about intellectual property security, with officials describing such actions as threats to American scientific innovation.