Boston jury indicts Russian Harvard researcher for smuggling frog embryos into US

A federal grand jury in Boston has indicted Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist conducting cancer research for Harvard Medical School, on charges related to the attempted smuggling of clawed frog embryos and embryonic samples into the United States.

Petrova, 31, faces three counts: concealment of a material fact, making false statements, and smuggling goods into the country, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Massachusetts Attorney's Office.

She was taken into immigration custody on February 16, 2025, after arriving at Logan International Airport on a flight from Paris, and was formally charged on May 14, 2025. Currently, Petrova is out on pretrial release.

According to the indictment, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped Petrova after a law enforcement canine alerted to her checked duffel bag on the baggage carousel. During an inspection at an agricultural secondary screening area, officers found undeclared biological materials, including clawed frog embryos stored in microcentrifuges, embryonic samples preserved in paraffin, and slides with dyed samples.

Petrova initially denied carrying biological materials but later admitted to having them during questioning. She claimed uncertainty about whether the embryos needed to be declared upon entry into the U.S.

Evidence from Petrova’s phone revealed text messages from a colleague warning her of the requirement to declare such biological materials. In one message, a colleague instructed: “if you bring samples or antibody back, make sure you get the permission etc. Like that link I sent to leon-/group chat about frog embryos because TSA went through my bags at customs in Boston.”

Further texts from her principal investigator showed concern about passing through customs, asking, “What is your plan to pass the American Customs with samples? This is the most delicate place of the trajectory.” Petrova responded, “No plan yet. I won’t be able to swallow them.”

If convicted, Petrova faces up to five years in prison for concealment and false statements, and up to 20 years for smuggling goods, along with potential fines of up to $250,000 for each charge. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Authorities emphasise that these are allegations and that Petrova is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The case highlights the strict regulations and enforcement at U.S. borders regarding the import of biological materials.

By Khagan Isayev