Ontario student arrested in U.S. on alleged Chinese espionage at airports
University of Waterloo student Weiheng Zeng was detained in Michigan after U.S. authorities said he photographed aircraft at Toronto and Chicago airports for a Chinese contact.
Weiheng Zeng, a 2004-born undergraduate at the University of Waterloo, was taken into custody in Michigan after U.S. officials alleged he was gathering aircraft photographs for a Chinese intelligence source. The FBI says Zeng entered the Toronto and Chicago airport areas, using a forklift to obtain better angles and even trying to open a locked FedEx delivery truck at O'Hare. He allegedly transmitted the images through a Huawei device equipped with Chinese-issued SIM cards, destroying the cards and messages after each exchange, and was paid about $200 US per assignment.
During border interviews, Zeng provided inconsistent explanations for the photos on his phone, first claiming a hobby and later admitting to being hired by a “Chinese contact.” A federal prosecutor argued he is a flight risk, and a court-appointed defender consented to his continued detention. University of Waterloo declined comment, and local police were not involved in the investigation.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about airport security, foreign espionage and the handling of Chinese intelligence activities in North America.
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