The recent raid in Las Vegas, ties into a broader pattern of concerns about unlicensed biological operations connected to Chinese nationals in the United States, particularly in suburban or semi-rural settings. These cases have sparked alarm about potential biosecurity risks, links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and whether they represent deliberate threats or "sleeper" capabilities.
The Core Incident: Reedley, California (2022–2023 Discovery)
The story begins with the infamous "Reedley biolab," discovered in late 2022 in a warehouse in Reedley, California (a small town near Fresno). A code enforcement officer noticed improper drainage and investigated, uncovering an unlicensed facility operated under companies like Prestige Biotech Inc. and Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI).
Key findings from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's November 2023 report and DOJ filings:
Thousands of vials and samples labelled (or unlabelled) with pathogens including HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), syphilis, and a freezer marked "Ebola."
Genetically engineered mice designed to mimic human immune responses and potentially carry COVID-19.
Improper storage of hazardous biological materials, medical waste, and counterfeit/misbranded diagnostic test kits (including COVID-19 tests).
No proper licensing, permits, or oversight — violating U.S. regulations on handling select agents and medical devices.
The operator was Jia Bei Zhu (aka Jesse Zhu, Qiang He, David He), a 62-year-old Chinese national. He was a wanted fugitive from Canada (facing a $330 million judgment for intellectual property theft) and used false identities. Zhu had ties to PRC-state-controlled companies and military-civil fusion entities (a CCP strategy blending civilian and military tech development). His operations received unexplained payments (over $1 million) from Chinese banks.
Zhu and associate Zhaoyan Wang faced federal charges for conspiracy, wire fraud, distributing adulterated/misbranded devices (including fake COVID tests), and false statements. Zhu was arrested in October 2023 and remains in custody, with a trial hearing noted around February 2026.
Initial CDC/FBI response was slow, but the case raised alarms about how easily dangerous materials could be acquired and stored undetected.
The Las Vegas Raid (January 31, 2026)
LVMPD SWAT, hazmat teams, FBI, and others raided a home on Sugar Springs Drive in northeast Las Vegas after a tip about a possible biolab.
What was found: Refrigerators, freezers, lab equipment, and containers with unknown liquids/biological materials in a locked garage. Items appeared "consistent" with those in Reedley (per LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill).
No confirmed deadly pathogens (yet—materials went to FBI labs for testing). A second home was searched with no threats found.
Link to Reedley: Property records tie the home (via an LLC) to Zhu (under his alias David He) and Wang. The LLC matches entities from the California case. The property manager, Ori Solomon, was arrested for hazardous waste violations.
Broader actions: FBI revisited the old Reedley site the next day.
Authorities described it as a "possible biological laboratory," but no public confirmation of active high-threat pathogens like Ebola in Vegas (speculation in some reports stems from Reedley parallels).
Are These "Chinese Bio Labs in the Suburbs" Part of a Coordinated CCP Threat?
The evidence shows troubling patterns but falls short yet of proving a deliberate bioweapons network ready to "unleash mayhem" on CCP orders:
Supporting concerns:
Chinese connections — Zhu's background includes PRC military-civil fusion links and funding from Chinese sources. The Reedley lab handled materials that could pose biosecurity risks if mishandled or weaponised.
Proliferation risks — Unlicensed labs storing potential select agents (e.g., Ebola-labelled freezer) in residential/suburban areas evade oversight. Poor security/storage could enable theft or accidental release.
Repeat incidents — Las Vegas appears as an extension of the same network (same people/companies), suggesting persistence despite arrests.
Broader context — U.S. officials have flagged CCP-linked activities (e.g., secret police stations in U.S. cities for coercion/espionage). Congressional Republicans (e.g., Rep. Kevin Kiley) called for stronger laws like the Preventing Illegal Laboratories Act.
In short: These cases highlight real vulnerabilities in U.S. biosecurity—unlicensed facilities handling risky materials linked to individuals with CCP-adjacent backgrounds. The Reedley discovery was shocking, and Las Vegas suggests the network wasn't fully dismantled. Ongoing federal probes (DOJ, FBI) and congressional oversight are key to clarifying risks.
With Trump bringing in 600,000 Chinese students, who knows what can happen.