Las Vegas Home Raid Reveals Alleged Illegal Biological Laboratory Operation
Federal and local authorities in Nevada have uncovered what they describe as an illegal biological laboratory operating within a residential property in Las Vegas. The suburban home, owned by a Chinese national, became the centre of a dramatic hazmat response as investigators removed numerous medical items and suspicious substances.
Dramatic Police Footage Shows Extensive Hazmat Operation
Newly released footage from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department captures the intensity of the operation, showing agents in full protective gear hauling bags of medical tubing, vials, and containers filled with unknown liquids from the property. The response involved multiple agencies working in coordination to secure the potentially hazardous site.
During a press briefing on Monday, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that investigators discovered what he called a 'significant volume of material' stored throughout the home. Refrigerators and freezers contained numerous vials and containers holding liquids of varying colours and compositions, suggesting a sophisticated operation.
Pathogen-Labeled Containers and Extensive Biological Materials Found
The investigation uncovered particularly concerning evidence in the form of pathogen-labeled containers with markings indicating dangerous biological agents. Labels reportedly identified substances as 'dengue fever,' 'HIV,' 'malaria,' 'COVID,' and 'Ebola.' Alongside these containers, authorities located approximately 1,000 mice within the property.
According to Christopher Delzotto, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Las Vegas field office, more than 1,000 samples were collected from the site and sent for comprehensive laboratory testing. The scale of material discovered suggests a substantial operation that had been ongoing for some time.
Property Manager Arrested and Equipment Seized
Authorities arrested 55-year-old Ori Solomon, identified as the property manager for the Sugar Springs Drive residence and a nearby home on Temple View. Both properties were thoroughly searched as part of the expanding investigation into the alleged illegal laboratory activities.
Delzotto detailed that the initial search uncovered sophisticated laboratory equipment including a bio-safety hood, bio-safety labeling, a centrifuge, multiple refrigerators, and gallon-sized containers filled with red-brown liquids. Additionally, refrigerated vials containing unidentified substances were seized as evidence.
Connection to Previous California Biolab Investigation
Police confirmed the home is owned by Jia Bei Zhu, the same individual linked to a previous investigation into an alleged illegal biological laboratory discovered in Reedley, California, in 2023. Zhu has remained in federal custody since that earlier case came to light.
The California discovery subsequently sparked a congressional investigation, which found the lab had allegedly received funding from Chinese banks and stored thousands of biological samples labeled as potential pathogens. The recovered items from the Las Vegas property are 'consistent' with what was found in the Reedley investigation, according to Sheriff McMahill.
Defence Attorney Denies Client Involvement
The homeowner, Zhu, is scheduled to go on trial in the 2023 case in April. His attorney, Anthony Capozzi, stated on Monday that his client has been in federal custody for three years and denied any involvement in the Las Vegas operation.
'He is not involved in any kind of biolab being conducted in a home in Las Vegas,' Capozzi asserted. 'What went on in that residence, we are unaware of.'
Precautionary Measures and Safe Evacuation
Law enforcement executed the warrant at the home near Washington Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday, taking special precautions due to the potential biological hazards. The team utilised a robot to initially clear the home and took multiple air samples before allowing human investigators to enter the property.
Police confirmed that three people were separately renting rooms from the homeowner at the Sugar Springs property and were safely evacuated during the operation. Investigators have stated the renters were not connected to the alleged laboratory activities or the ongoing investigation.
Authorities Still Determining Purpose of Materials
When questioned about whether investigators have determined the purpose of the biological materials found inside the home, Sheriff McMahill acknowledged that authorities remain uncertain about the operation's intentions. He noted that investigators have yet to identify why the substances were stored there or how they were being used.
McMahill emphasized that these questions remain central as the case enters its next phase of investigation. He described the most difficult work as lying ahead, as officials attempt to piece together what the materials were, where they originated, and what their intended purpose might have been.
Congressional Calls for Action and Legislative Response
Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) is calling for a hearing on legislation designed to prevent illegal laboratories from continuing to endanger communities. 'This can't keep happening,' said Kiley. 'The federal government must do more to stop illegal labs from operating in our communities.'
Kiley added that the bipartisan bill aims to close loopholes that allow dangerous facilities to operate under regulatory radar. He noted that the illegal biological laboratory found in California was reportedly run by a Chinese national who is a wanted fugitive in Canada, facing a $330 million judgment for stealing American intellectual property.
International Connections and Funding Sources
Authorities have indicated that the suspect in the California case was a top official at a state-controlled Chinese company and had ties to military-civil fusion programs. The laboratory allegedly received millions of dollars in unexplained payments from Chinese banks while operational.
Particularly concerning was the discovery of a freezer marked 'Ebola' containing sealed silver bags consistent with the storage of high-risk biological materials. Ebola is classified as a Select Agent with a lethality rate estimated between 25 and 90 percent.
The California laboratory also reportedly housed nearly a thousand transgenic mice genetically engineered to mimic the human immune system. Lab workers informed authorities that the mice were designed 'to catch and carry the COVID-19 virus,' indicating potentially dangerous research objectives.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Safety Concerns
The Las Vegas investigation continues as authorities work to identify the full scope of the operation and any potential public health risks. The discovery has raised significant concerns about the ability of such facilities to operate undetected within residential communities.
Sheriff McMahill noted that while detectives initially examined other locations believed to be connected to Solomon, all of them have since been eliminated from the investigation. The focus remains on understanding the nature and purpose of the materials discovered in the Las Vegas home.
