A university student from Ontario has been arrested in the United States as part of a counter-intelligence investigation for allegedly taking photos at airports in Toronto and Chicago at the behest of an individual he thought was a Chinese government representative.
According to an affidavit submitted in a Michigan court by an FBI agent, Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national enrolled at the University of Waterloo, came under scrutiny following an incident at Chicago’s O’Hare airport in April.
The affidavit reveals that a person was observed taking photographs, scaling a forklift, and attempting to access locked trailers at a FedEx facility at the airport on April 21, shortly after Zeng entered the U.S. via the Ambassador Bridge.
Further investigation linked Zeng to a vehicle present at the scene during the aforementioned incident.
Upon his attempt to re-enter the U.S. with the same vehicle on August 23, Zeng was subjected to a thorough series of interviews by border agents and subsequently by the FBI.
During these interactions, Zeng provided conflicting information, ultimately disclosing to the FBI that he had been hired to capture images of FedEx facilities at O’Hare and Toronto’s Pearson airport by a person he believed to be affiliated with Chinese government security.
Zeng now faces charges of making false statements.
The original report by The Canadian Press was released on September 2, 2026.
