Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese citizen living in Canada and an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo, was detained after crossing into the United States via Ontario’s Ambassador Bridge on Aug. 23. Zeng remains in FBI custody.
Zeng charged at Detroit hearing
Zeng appeared before a judge in Detroit on Tuesday. He was accused of making false statements to authorities and ordered to remain in custody until his hearing. No date was announced for the hearing.
The criminal complaint alleges that Zeng was seen taking photographs at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. FedEx couriers saw a person in the airport parking lot climb onto a forklift and attempt to open a shipping container inside a locked truck.
Alleged to have taken photographs for a Chinese contact
Zeng said he was trying to get a better angle and had taken the photographs for that reason. He was then seen getting into a Chrysler minivan.
According to the criminal complaint, Zeng told customs officers while attempting to enter the United States in the same vehicle that he had gone to Chicago for a one-day trip. The filing states that Zeng changed his account several times.
Zeng allegedly eventually admitted that he had been paid by a Chinese contact in exchange for photographing specific aircraft. The criminal complaint states that the payment was made by bank transfer in Chinese yuan and that Zeng was provided with a SIM card every few months.
Allegedly sent photographs using a Huawei phone
According to the filing, Zeng took the photographs with a Huawei mobile phone and sent them to his Chinese contact. He was also allegedly instructed to destroy the SIM card and delete the messages.
The criminal complaint states that the SIM card enabled a connection through a Chinese network rather than Canada’s mobile communications network. It also records that Zeng admitted taking photographs inside a FedEx building at Toronto Pearson International Airport in 2025.
The Chinese embassies in Washington and Ottawa did not respond to requests for comment.
