REEDLEY, CA — Federal agents searched a closed biological laboratory in Reedley on Sunday, Feb. 1, returning to a site that is still the focus of an ongoing investigation. The search came one day after federal and local law enforcement raided a Las Vegas home and discovered refrigerators containing vials of unidentified liquids.
On Saturday morning, Jan. 31, Metro SWAT and the FBI served a search warrant at a home on Sugar Springs Drive in Las Vegas. Investigators found unknown liquids inside the residence and took one person into custody. No formal charges had been filed as of Sunday. Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill described the incident as an isolated event and said there was no immediate danger to the public. The liquid samples found in the home were sent to the FBI for testing.
Link Between Sites
County records show a business registered at the Las Vegas home shares a name with the company at the center of the Reedley lab investigation. This link connects the Nevada discovery to the ongoing probe into dangerous viruses and bacteria found earlier at the California site.
Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba said the FBI notified local officials about the search but did not say what agents were looking for. Neighbors near the building reported seeing agents carrying dozens of boxes out of the facility during the day.
History of the Reedley Lab
The Reedley laboratory first made news in late 2022 when officials found samples of various diseases at the site, including HIV, malaria, and dengue fever. The lab also housed about 1,000 mice.
Following these discoveries, the investigation led to the arrest of a Chinese citizen in October 2023. The person was charged with lying to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and selling medical products with fake labels. The suspect is currently in federal custody awaiting trial.
In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed and destroyed the biological samples and chemicals from the facility. However, the FBI’s return on Sunday indicates the investigation into the company and its operations is still active.
Proposed Changes to the Law
The discovery of several illegal labs in recent years has prompted federal action. To address the issue, three California congressmen proposed a new law in October 2025.
The bill would increase government monitoring of laboratories and make it harder to run illegal labs. A House committee is currently reviewing the proposal.
