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Italy extradites Chinese researcher to US over Covid theft

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Italy announced, after Bloomberg reported, that it will extradite Xu Zewei to the United States.
Xu was arrested in Milan on July 3 at the request of U.S. authorities for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The U.S. Justice Department alleges Xu stole Covid-19 medical research for the Chinese government between February 2020 and June 2021.
Xu’s lawyer Enrico Giarda said his client has not received extradition communication and claims mistaken identity.

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Story summary

Italy announced, after Bloomberg reported, that it will extradite Xu Zewei to the United States.
Xu was arrested in Milan on July 3 at the request of U.S. authorities for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The U.S. Justice Department alleges Xu stole Covid-19 medical research for the Chinese government between February 2020 and June 2021.
Xu’s lawyer Enrico Giarda said his client has not received extradition communication and claims mistaken identity.