The US House Committee on Energy and Commerce is examining concerns about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after two agency scientists were charged with smuggling mpox into the United States and misleading investigators. Dr. Vincent Munster, 53, a Dutch national and chief of the virus ecology section at NIH’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Montana, and Claude Kwe, 38, a research fellow from Cameroon, face charges of conspiracy to smuggle mpox and making false statements to federal law enforcement.
Details of the Alleged Smuggling
According to a criminal complaint filed on 2 June, the scientists arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on 25 January after a nine-day research trip to the Republic of Congo, where they studied the mpox strain linked to the country’s current outbreak. Customs and Border Protection officials questioned them about a large black plastic case they were carrying. The researchers allegedly said it contained diagnostic and testing equipment, but an inspection revealed 113 sealed laboratory vials packed inside styrofoam coolers. When asked for required documentation, Munster allegedly replied, “Yes yes, it’s all in my laptop, but you won’t need them. I do this all the time.”
Laboratory analysis of 20 vials found 17 contained inactivated monkeypox virus, one contained chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA. The contents of the remaining vials have not been publicly identified. The importation of biological agents, even deactivated samples, is subject to strict US regulatory requirements, including authorization and documentation for transport on commercial flights and declaration upon entry.
Congressional and Senatorial Response
The case has triggered a congressional review. In a 16 June letter to NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce requested details about Munster and Kwe’s work, the origin and transport of the biological samples, whether the NIH authorized or was aware of the trip, and the agency’s response after learning of the allegations. The committee also seeks a timeline of NIH’s responses, including any prior compliance concerns involving the researchers and whether they made false statements to the NIH or other federal agencies.
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) called for an independent investigation into RML’s biosecurity and personnel practices in a 26 May letter to the HHS inspector general. He cited a whistleblower complaint submitted to White Coat Waste, which has long criticized Munster’s taxpayer-funded animal research. Sheehy pointed to two reported employee exposures to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus—one from a monkey bite and another from a failure of protective clothing—both confirmed by the NIH. He also claimed Munster retained access to the high-containment lab after being detained by authorities. HHS did not respond to requests for comment.
NIH Response and Legal Proceedings
An NIH spokesperson said the agency was notified of the airport incident in January and immediately implemented protocols to secure laboratory facilities, research materials, and biological samples. “NIH also took appropriate personnel actions and took all relevant steps to confirm that there was no risk at any time to staff or the public in or around the [Rocky Mountain Laboratories] facility,” the spokesperson said. “This matter is currently under investigation, and NIH is cooperating fully with law enforcement. NIH leadership continues to prioritize biosafety across the agency and promote a culture of accountability, compliance, and responsible scientific research.”
Both Munster and Kwe pleaded not guilty at a hearing in Missoula, Montana, on 3 June and were released on bail after surrendering their passports. They each face a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment if convicted. Kwe’s lawyer, Benton Martin, said: “Mr. Kwe is presumed innocent and we will await further proceedings before commenting further.” Munster did not respond to requests for comment.
Impact on Biosafety Protocols
The criminal charges have renewed scrutiny of RML’s biosafety protocols. The facility contains biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories, the highest level of biocontainment, where researchers study dangerous pathogens like Ebola and Nipah virus. Munster is a well-published scientist with approximately 400 publications and 69,000 citations; together, Munster and Kwe have co-authored 12 reports related to mpox since 2023. In 2024 alone, Africa reported 80,276 suspected mpox cases and 1,340 deaths.
US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said the allegations represented a serious breach of federal law: “These NIH experts apparently broke our laws by smuggling viral pathogens on a packed commercial airplane from an outbreak in the Republic of Congo. Let that sink in.” Marcus Sykes, a special agent of the HHS Office of Inspector General, added: “Any deliberate effort to conceal and smuggle biological materials into the United States without proper authorization is a breach of the public’s trust and could have placed the public at risk.”
