By Tian Jingxin
Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), working with local police, seized a large quantity of biological laboratory equipment and unidentified liquids inside what appeared to be an ordinary residential home in Las Vegas. An illegal biolab network spanning two states has now come to light. Investigators say this “ghost laboratory” is directly linked to the illegal Reedley, California biolab case that shocked the United States several years ago—and both point to the same key individual with ties to China.
The raid: a biochemical crisis inside a residential home
on Jan. 31, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) SWAT team and FBI agents raided a single-family home on Sugar Springs Drive, near East Washington Avenue and North Hollywood Boulevard in northeast Las Vegas. The operation was triggered by a tip alleging illegal disposal of hazardous waste at the residence.
What officers found exceeded all expectations. No drugs or conventional contraband were discovered. Instead, authorities uncovered a fully equipped underground biological laboratory.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed at a subsequent press conference that more than 1,000 pieces of evidence were seized at the scene, including multiple industrial-grade refrigerators and freezers containing test tubes filled with “unknown liquids,” centrifuges and other specialized biological lab equipment, as well as a large number of biological samples labeled with coded tags.
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To ensure safety, a hazardous materials (HazMat) team and robots were deployed to secure the site. The samples were urgently sent to FBI laboratories for pathogen testing.
Key suspect: a ‘ghost’ from California to Nevada
The most shocking discovery from the raid was the ownership of the property. Investigators confirmed that the house is owned by a limited liability company (LLC), whose ultimate controller is Zhu Jiabei (phonetic transliteration; also known as Jesse Zhu or David He), a Chinese national.
Zhu was previously arrested for operating an illegal laboratory under the name “Prestige Biotech” in Reedley, California. In that 2023 case, authorities found nearly 1,000 genetically modified mice in a warehouse, along with samples of more than 20 infectious pathogens, including COVID-19, HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Although Zhu remains in federal custody awaiting trial, the Las Vegas property appears to have been a previously undiscovered node in her illegal network.
During the current operation, police arrested the property’s manager, 55-year-old Ori Solomon, who now faces charges related to illegal disposal of hazardous waste. Solomon reportedly holds an Israeli passport and used an alias.
‘China connection’ raises national security concerns
The new discovery has reignited public anxiety in the United States over “unregulated China-linked biological laboratories.” Previous congressional investigation reports indicated that Zhu maintained complex financial relationships with multiple Chinese entities, and that her California lab had received millions of dollars in unexplained wire transfers from a Chinese bank.
Relevant House committees further noted that Zhu is a wanted fugitive in Canada and has been accused of stealing U.S. intellectual property. Her activities may involve some form of “military–civil fusion” project.
In response to the latest developments, U.S. Congressman Kevin Kiley once again called for the passage of the Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act, which would impose stricter federal oversight on private possession of high-risk biological agents.
Official response and public safety
Despite the discovery of large quantities of suspected biological materials, Sheriff McMahill emphasized that there is currently “no indication of a biological leak, and no immediate risk to the public.” All hazardous materials have been safely transferred to appropriate health agencies for isolation and testing.
As of press time, Zhu Jiabei’s defense attorney denied any connection between their client and the Las Vegas case, stating that Zhu has been unable to control external affairs since her arrest. The FBI said that, depending on the test results of the samples, more serious charges—including “manufacturing weapons of mass destruction”—could still be brought against those responsible.
