Two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom, have been charged with conspiring to smuggle U.S. military equipment, including missiles, into China, according to the U.S. Justice Department. This case underscores the Trump administration’s intensified focus on securing the visa process to prevent foreign infiltration, especially from China.
Cui, believed to be acting on behalf of the Chinese government, and Miller, a U.S. permanent resident, allegedly coordinated with two individuals — who were actually working with the FBI — to procure military technology starting in November 2023. The scheme involved plans to hide the cryptographic device in various items, such as a blender or motor starter, to evade detection. They also paid $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device, according to court documents.
The defendants were arrested by Serbian law enforcement officials in April and are currently detained in Serbia, with extradition proceedings ongoing. If convicted, Cui and Miller face prison sentences of up to 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act and other charges. The case has prompted renewed calls for stricter visa screening, as the administration continues its efforts to protect national security and democratic values from foreign threats.
Two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom, have been charged with conspiring to smuggle U.S. military equipment, including missiles, into China, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The charges mark another significant development in the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten scrutiny over foreign nationals seeking to enter the U.S., especially those from China, amid growing concerns over espionage and foreign interference.
Cui, believed to be acting on behalf of the Chinese government, and Miller, a U.S. permanent resident, allegedly coordinated with two individuals — who were actually working with the FBI — to procure military technology starting in November 2023. The scheme involved plans to hide the cryptographic device in various items, such as a blender or motor starter, to evade detection. They also paid $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device, according to court documents.
Additionally, the defendants were accused of orchestrating a plot to silence an unnamed U.S. citizen who had spoken against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November 2023. The alleged plot included surveilling the individual, installing a tracking device on their car, slashing their tires, and destroying two statues the individual had created of Xi and his wife. However, the individuals recruited by Cui and Miller were actually working in coordination with the FBI, as revealed in court documents.
The defendants were arrested by Serbian law enforcement officials in April and are currently detained in Serbia, with extradition proceedings ongoing. If convicted, Cui and Miller face prison sentences of up to 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act and other charges. The case has prompted renewed calls for stricter visa screening, as the administration continues its efforts to protect national security and democratic values from foreign threats.