las vegas — A suspected biological laboratory was found in a Las Vegas home and is now under investigation by authorities and linked to Malik Unauthorized California biological laboratory He was arrested in 2023, officials said on Monday.
SWAT officers served a search warrant Saturday after receiving information that there was a biological laboratory at the home on the city’s east side, according to a statement from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Officers detained one person, the property manager of the residence, but there was no immediate information on possible charges.
Investigators “found evidence of possible biological materials, including refrigerators containing vials of unknown liquids,” the statement said.
The authorities said that there is no threat to citizens.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the house belonged to a man who was He was arrested in 2023 on charges Due to not obtaining proper permits to manufacture COVID-19, pregnancy and HIV tests, and mislabeling of some kits for a biological laboratory in Reedley, California.
The owner, Jia Bai Zhou, is scheduled to go on trial in the case in April. His attorney, Anthony Capozzi, said Monday that his client has been in federal custody for three years.
“He is not involved in any type of biolab being done at a house in Las Vegas,” Capozzi said. “What happened in this residence we do not know about.”
McMahill said law enforcement took special precautions when serving the warrant on the Las Vegas home, including using a robot to disinfect the home and taking multiple air samples. Hazardous materials teams worked to remove the items from the home.
The FBI is assisting in the investigation.