The Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, Jay Bhattacharya, expressed concern over the discovery of two illegal makeshift biological laboratories in Ridley, California in 2023 and Las Vegas, Nevada in 2026. It is reported that these laboratories are interconnected and suspected of using dangerous pathogens.
According to Bhattacharya, conducting such experiments in illegal biological laboratories, especially in environments with weak biosafety measures, poses a threat to everyone around. What’s even more alarming is that these laboratories are operating completely unnoticed in residential environments.
“We need a better system to detect and prevent the emergence of such laboratories to avoid chaos and prevent the worst consequences,” Bhattacharya said.
Bhattacharya refused to speculate on the motives behind the discovery of these high-risk biological laboratories in California and Las Vegas, but he emphasized that “the found substances are very, very dangerous.”
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that SWAT personnel raided a residential property last Saturday (January 31) following a tip-off, suspecting the operation of an unauthorized biological laboratory on the premises.
During a press conference on February 1, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that a significant amount of laboratory equipment and containers, including operational refrigerators, bottles and gallon-sized containers containing unknown liquids, a centrifuge, and a workbench with biosecurity markings, were discovered in a locked garage on the property. Preliminary assessments indicated that the scene did not pose an immediate hazard to nearby residents, air, or water sources.
“The evidence collected includes biological materials and liquids, which have been meticulously collected and sent to the FBI laboratory for testing,” the police stated.
Ori Solomon, a 55-year-old property manager, was arrested on charges of improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste, possession of six firearms, and violating visa regulations. Solomon was granted bail on February 6, with the judge ordering him to surrender his passport and restricting his travel.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the property in question is registered under a company named “David Destiny Discovery, LLC”, with 62-year-old Chinese citizen Jia Bei Zhu listed as the company’s registered agent.
Zhu Bei, who was caught selling unauthorized biological agents in Ridley, California in 2023, is currently in custody and scheduled to appear in court in April 2026.
The “China Issues Special Committee” of the U.S. House of Representatives released a report in 2023 stating that Zhu Bei is a Chinese citizen and a wanted fugitive in Canada, accused of close ties to the Chinese Communist government and military, participating in transnational criminal networks, and stealing millions of dollars in intellectual property from American businesses. The report called for an investigation into such secretive biological laboratories within the U.S.
The recent discovery of another biological laboratory in Las Vegas has raised concerns about the establishment of shadow laboratories by the Chinese Communist Party in the U.S. and speculation on issues related to national security.
FBI Director Kash Patel, in an interview with “Just the News” on Friday, stated that under his leadership, the FBI’s investigation into the Las Vegas laboratory incident will not be similar to that of the 2023 California laboratory.
“We will thoroughly investigate this matter. We are awaiting the results of the laboratory tests and will continue the investigation,” he said. “These samples have been sent to the FBI laboratory for analysis. We will pursue this matter further.”
Patel assured that the FBI will timely release all information and ensure transparency.
Bhattacharya discussed the Trump administration’s efforts to scrutinize Chinese-funded scientific research in the U.S.
“For the past few decades, American and Chinese scientists have had close cooperation… It’s not an exaggeration to say that U.S. funding has contributed to the rise of Chinese biomedical research,” Bhattacharya noted. “Some of these essentially allow the Chinese government to take advantage of these investments. It’s well known that reports of foreign interference in university education date back decades.”
In May 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that NIH-funded research projects lack transparency, especially in cases involving foreign subcontracts, which is concerning as the U.S. government needs to safeguard national security.
The federal agency stated that the NIH “must ensure the ability to transparently and reliably report every dollar spent,” and is therefore “establishing a new funding structure that prohibits nesting foreign subcontract projects under parent projects.”
“We need safeguards to ensure that U.S. investments do not pose a threat or harm to the U.S.,” Bhattacharya told “Just the News”. “Looking back, I believe that many of the investments we made in China and some other concerning countries should have been accompanied by better safeguards.”