HELENA — A pair of researchers who work at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton are accused of bringing monkeypox(mpox) samples into the United States without proper documentation and lying to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol about being in possession of the samples.
(WATCH: Rocky Mountain Laboratory scientists accused of unlawful transportation of virus samples)
A criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Vincent Munster, Chief of the Virus Ecology Unit in the Laboratory of Virology, and Claude Kwe, a research fellow at the Laboratory of Virology. The complaint alleges a conspiracy to import merchandise contrary to law and giving false statements to federal officials.
According to court documents, Munster and Kwe were stopped by customs officials after a return trip from the Republic of Congo at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on January 25, 2026. The two were traveling on National Institute of Health Business for research purposes. The area was experiencing an mpox outbreak at the time.
When the men were questioned about the items they were transporting, including a large black plastic case.
The Justice Department alleges that when asked by CBP if they had potentially dangerous biological material, which would require additional documentation and approval for commercial flights, the men denied having any in their possession.
On inspection, CPB says they found 113 vials, some containing deactivated mpox samples. Deactivated means the virus is no longer capable of infection or replication, but remains structurally intact for study. FBI analysis of the samples confirmed they were deactivated mpox.
According to the CDC, a 2022 outbreak of a mpox strain in the United States was linked to 30,000 infections and 42 deaths. The virus can cause a painful rash accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Both Munster and Kwe made their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Wednesday, June 3, at 12:30 p.m. They were released but had to surrender their passports.
Mark J. O'Brien, a lawyer representing Munster, told MTN, "Well, it sounds a lot more salacious than it actually is. Doctor Munster and his colleague are accused of bringing in what is then known as monkeypox, or is now known as mpox, into the United States. This is not a terrorism episode. This was done, allegedly to further research, to try to eradicate that disease."
Munster is a citizen of the Netherlands, and Kwe is a citizen of Cameroon. The pair face a maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted.
The National Institute of Health released the following statement regarding the investigation of the men.
In January 2026, NIH leadership were made aware of the incident at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport involving NIH staff members. Upon notification, NIH leadership immediately activated established agency protocols to safeguard related laboratory facilities, research materials, and biological samples. These actions included securing relevant laboratory spaces, restricting access to affected areas, and conducting a comprehensive audit and inventory assessment to verify that all materials were appropriately accounted for, documented, and maintained in accordance with all relevant biosafety policies, requirements, and procedures. NIH also took appropriate personnel actions and took all relevant steps to confirm that there was no risk at any time to the staff or public in or around the RML facility.
This matter is currently under investigation, and NIH is cooperating fully with law enforcement and appropriate authorities. Because this is an ongoing investigation and personnel matter, we are limited in what additional information we can provide at this time.
NIH is committed to maintaining the highest standards of biosafety, biosecurity, and stewardship of research materials. NIH leadership continues to prioritize biosafety across the agency and to promote a strong culture of accountability, compliance, and responsible scientific research throughout the biomedical research enterprise.
The complaint against the scientists came the week after Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, sent a whistleblower complaint alleging misconduct against Munster. Sheehy called for thorough oversight concerning Rocky Mountains Laboratory security, safety and personnel practices.
“This announcement by DOJ is exactly why I called for the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the security protocols at Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Allowing foreign nationals to smuggle dangerous viruses into the United States puts at risk the safety and wellbeing of the American people — and in this case, in particular hardworking Montanans. These two scientists lied to CBP and betrayed the public’s trust, and I’m glad to see the Department of Justice taking action to hold them accountable. I will keep fighting to deliver the answers Montana families deserve,” said Senator Sheehy.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information about the federal hearing in Missoula, and a response on the matter from the National Institute of Health.
