Two senior researchers at Rocky Mountain Laboratories were arrested in June 2026 after allegedly smuggling monkeypox virus samples into the United States on a commercial flight from the Republic of Congo. The case has exposed serious questions about how dangerous pathogens are handled, transported, and monitored at one of America's most critical infectious disease research facilities.

The incident occurred on January 25, 2025, when Vincent Munster, the laboratory's chief of virus ecology, and Claude Kwe, his research fellow, arrived in Detroit on a flight from the Republic of Congo. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents discovered a large black plastic case in their luggage containing 113 vials. When tested, 17 of the 20 vials examined by the FBI contained deactivated monkeypox virus, one contained chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA.

The men allegedly told customs agents that the case contained diagnostics and testing equipment. If convicted, both face up to five years in prison. Munster, 53, is a Dutch citizen, while Kwe, 38, is from Cameroon. Both worked in the Emerging Viral Pathogens section of the laboratory's Biosafety Level 4 facility, which maintains the highest level of biosafety precautions for research involving known and potential human pathogens.

What Is Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Why Does This Matter?

Rocky Mountain Laboratories, part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has operated in Hamilton, Montana, since 1900. The facility was originally established to combat Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a deadly tick-borne illness that was killing settlers in the region. Today, it specializes in studying and developing treatments for some of the world's most contagious and deadly diseases, including Ebola and hantavirus.

The monkeypox smuggling case arrives amid heightened public concern about biosafety. The timing is particularly sensitive, as an Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo had killed more than 100 people by mid-May 2026, and a hantavirus infection killed several passengers on a cruise ship in early May. These outbreaks have intensified scrutiny of how government laboratories handle dangerous pathogens.

What Other Safety Incidents Have Been Reported at the Lab?

The monkeypox case is not an isolated incident. An animal welfare advocacy group called White Coat Waste Project Inc. published a whistleblower report alleging that Rocky Mountain Laboratories had covered up multiple accidents involving exposure to dangerous pathogens. The allegations include:

• November 2025 Incident: A laboratory worker was bitten by a monkey while handling animals, potentially exposing them to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus. The worker was airlifted to a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.
• February 2026 Incident: An NIH-filed report documented a potential exposure to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus when a hole developed in a worker's protective glove while changing cages of laboratory mice.
• Lack of Transparency: White Coat Waste alleged that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) did not promptly disclose these incidents to Congress or the public.

The NIH acknowledged both the November and February incidents in a statement, confirming that all reporting, emergency response, and safety protocols were followed and that there was no release of pathogens outside the laboratory or risk to the public.

How Are Lawmakers Responding?

The arrests and safety allegations have drawn attention from congressional Republicans, including Montana Senator Tim Sheehy. On May 26, Sheehy sent a letter to the Health and Human Services Inspector General requesting more information about the incidents and what he called the "risks posed by potentially rogue scientists".

"It is critical that scientists, especially those with foreign connections, are thoroughly vetted given the potentially catastrophic impacts of their work on our nation's health and security," Sheehy wrote.

Tim Sheehy, U.S. Senator from Montana

Justin Goodman, senior vice president for White Coat Waste, emphasized that lawmakers are concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding both the accidents and the international smuggling case. White Coat Waste, a registered nonprofit that raised $5.9 million in 2024, has previously claimed credit for pushing measures against federal laboratory testing on animals, including cuts to funding for animal testing collaborations with China and Russia in the 2026 Farm Bill.

What Does the NIH Say About These Concerns?

The NIH released a statement acknowledging the arrests but declining to provide additional details. The agency emphasized that it took appropriate actions and confirmed there was no risk to staff or the surrounding community. The statement also reaffirmed NIH's expectations regarding the handling, transport, storage, documentation, and stewardship of research materials and biological samples.

According to the NIH, all staff are responsible for understanding and complying with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing these activities. The agency stressed that maintaining public trust requires a shared commitment to accountability, transparency, and strict adherence to established biosafety and biosecurity requirements.

Why Does This Reflect Broader Public Concerns?

The incident also reflects a long-standing suspicion, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, that government researchers may be carelessly or deliberately tinkering with deadly diseases for unknown purposes. This has created chronic tension for Rocky Mountain Laboratories workers, who have spent years building community trust that they are handling dangerous pathogens to help the public, not harm it.

The Republic of Congo had experienced a monkeypox outbreak for two years until it was declared contained in April 2026. Monkeypox, also called mpox, causes a painful rash and flu-like symptoms but is not fatal. However, the fact that researchers allegedly transported active virus samples on a commercial aircraft without proper declaration raises serious questions about biosafety protocols and international regulations governing the transport of dangerous biological materials.

U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan stated in a Department of Justice press release: "These NIH experts apparently broke our laws by smuggling viral pathogens on a packed commercial airplane from an outbreak in the Republic of Congo." Customs and Border Patrol Director of Field Operations Marty Raybon added that authorities would "remain fiercely vigilant in neutralizing biological threats" and continue to hold accountable those who jeopardize the safety and security of the American people.

Both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is ongoing, and details about their court appearance have not yet been released.