Authorities uncovered a suspected illegal biological laboratory inside a northeast Las Vegas residence during a January 31, 2026 raid, raising serious concerns about biosecurity, foreign-linked operations, and regulatory enforcement gaps in the United States. The search was connected to Jia Bei Zhu, a Chinese national already in custody for operating an unauthorized biolab in Reedley, California, a case that previously drew national attention and congressional scrutiny.

Inside a locked garage at the Las Vegas property, investigators discovered refrigerators containing more than 1,000 unidentified liquid samples, centrifuges, a biosafety hood, and red drums filled with unknown fluids. Bodycam footage from the FBI raid showed the extent of the setup, including a refrigerator later labeled “Ebola,” echoing disturbing findings from Zhu’s earlier California operation. Federal agencies, including the FBI and CDC, immediately began testing the materials to determine their contents and potential risks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified at least 20 potentially infectious agents linked to the operation, including HIV, tuberculosis, and a particularly deadly strain of malaria. Authorities said the lab was unlicensed and operating outside all established safety and reporting requirements. Despite the alarming discovery, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill emphasized that there was no threat to the public, noting that decontamination procedures were completed quickly and effectively.

Investigators stated that the lab’s stated purpose was to sell test kits, but evidence suggests the operation primarily imported and resold counterfeit testing kits from China, including COVID-related products, under false pretenses. Property manager Ori Solomon has since been charged with improper hazardous waste disposal, while the broader investigation into Zhu’s activities remains ongoing.

The Las Vegas discovery closely mirrors Zhu’s 2022 Reedley, California biolab, where agents labeled as HIV and Ebola were found, prompting an Environmental Protection Agency cleanup and a 2023 congressional report warning about weaknesses in oversight of unpermitted, foreign-operated laboratory facilities. Together, the cases have reignited debate over national biosecurity, enforcement failures, and the risks posed by clandestine laboratories operating within U.S. communities.

As federal agencies continue testing and reviewing the seized materials, lawmakers and security experts are calling for stricter oversight, stronger border and import controls, and tougher penalties to prevent similar operations from emerging in the future.