Unregulated Biological Research Facilities Emerging Across United States

Federal investigators have uncovered a second unauthorized biological laboratory in the Las Vegas area, potentially linked to an earlier discovery in California, prompting renewed concerns about biosecurity oversight across the country.

The FBI executed a search warrant at a Las Vegas-area vacation rental in early February 2026, with investigators suggesting connections to a previously discovered unauthorized lab in Reedley, California. House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford has voiced serious concerns about both facilities, highlighting potential gaps in America’s biological security framework.

“These cases raise fundamental questions about our biosecurity infrastructure and oversight mechanisms,” Crawford said in a statement following the Las Vegas discovery. “We need to understand how these operations evaded detection for so long and what materials they were working with.”

The Reedley facility, first discovered by local code enforcement officers in 2022, contained thousands of vials labeled with dangerous pathogens including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, and Ebola. Investigators also found genetically modified mice commonly used in laboratory research. The facility’s proximity to residential homes, a high school, and the local water supply amplified safety concerns among officials.

Federal authorities have linked both laboratories to Jiabei Zhu, also known as David He, who is currently in federal custody in connection with the Reedley case. According to Department of Justice documents, Zhu was indicted for allegedly distributing unapproved and misbranded COVID-19 test kits between August 2020 and March 2023, generating more than $1.7 million in revenue. Prosecutors allege these products were falsely marketed as authorized and manufactured in the United States.

The discovery of a second facility operating out of what appears to be an Airbnb rental property has intensified lawmakers’ concerns about potential national security implications.

“The idea that someone could establish makeshift biological laboratories in residential settings without detection points to significant vulnerabilities in our oversight systems,” said Dr. Eleanor Matthews, a biosecurity expert at Georgetown University. “While we don’t yet know the full scope of activities at these facilities, the pattern suggests deliberate evasion of regulatory frameworks.”

The term “secret biolab” typically refers to unregistered or unauthorized facilities handling biological materials without proper licensing or government oversight. Previous investigations into U.S. high-containment laboratories have revealed that oversight systems can be fragmented across multiple agencies, with safety records not always fully accessible to the public.

The Government Accountability Office has previously warned about gaps in the monitoring of biological research facilities across the United States. A 2018 GAO report highlighted inconsistent reporting requirements and coordination challenges between federal, state and local authorities that could potentially allow unauthorized operations to go undetected.

While federal officials emphasize there is currently no confirmed public health threat associated with either laboratory, the investigation continues to raise questions about how these facilities operated for extended periods without detection.

The case has drawn attention to the broader challenges of monitoring biological research in an era when sophisticated equipment has become increasingly accessible and portable. Modern biotechnology tools that once required extensive laboratory infrastructure can now sometimes be operated in smaller, less conspicuous settings.

“The democratization of biotechnology has tremendous benefits for research and innovation,” said Dr. James Carson, former adviser to the Department of Homeland Security on biosecurity matters. “But these cases highlight the darker side of that evolution—the potential for individuals to conduct unregulated biological work outside established safety frameworks.”

Federal investigators continue to analyze materials recovered from both locations as part of an ongoing multi-agency investigation involving the FBI, CDC, and Department of Homeland Security. Officials have indicated that additional charges against Zhu and potential accomplices may be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.