University of Waterloo Student Detained in U.S. Espionage Case
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
A Chinese citizen and undergraduate student faces federal charges after allegedly photographing aircraft for a Chinese security contact.
A University of Waterloo undergraduate student is in U.S. custody following allegations of espionage involving airport facilities in Toronto and Chicago. According to reporting from CBC News, Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese citizen born in 2004, was taken into custody in Michigan on Aug. 23 after he crossed the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ont.
Zeng faces a single count of making false statements. A criminal complaint reviewed by CBC News states that FBI investigators linked Zeng to an April 21 incident at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Security footage from FedEx showed a man climbing a forklift and attempting to open a shipping container and a locked delivery truck in a parking lot. Zeng reportedly admitted to FBI agents that he climbed the forklift to obtain a better angle for photographs.
While Zeng initially claimed the photos of military aircraft were for a flight radar hobby, CBC News reports he eventually told investigators he was paid by an unnamed "Chinese contact" to photograph specific planes and tail numbers. Zeng purportedly believed this individual worked for a Chinese security service, having met on an aviation enthusiast forum in 2024.
According to the FBI, Zeng used a Huawei phone and Chinese Telecom SIM cards—mailed to him every few months—to bypass Canadian cellular networks. He was allegedly directed to destroy the SIM cards and delete communications and photos. Zeng also reportedly told investigators he attempted to photograph a FedEx facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport in October 2025, receiving approximately $200 USD for the effort.
During a court appearance in Detroit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyse Wu argued that Zeng should remain in custody as a flight risk because he is a foreign citizen and resident.