An individual studying at a university in Ontario is under suspicion of engaging in espionage activities, with the FBI reporting that the person confessed to accessing airport facilities in Toronto and Chicago to capture images on behalf of an undisclosed individual from China.
The individual in question, identified as Weiheng Zeng and a Chinese national, was apprehended in Michigan on August 23 after crossing the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ontario. Zeng faces a charge of making false statements.
Appearing in a federal court in Detroit on Tuesday, Zeng consented to remain in custody until his trial. The suspicions around Zeng arose in April when a security video from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport captured an incident involving him, as detailed in a criminal complaint obtained by CBC News.
During the incident, Zeng was observed by FedEx employees taking photos, climbing a forklift, and trying to access locked areas at the Chicago airport. Zeng later admitted to climbing the forklift to get a better vantage point for his photos, as per the complaint.
Authorities were able to link Zeng to a dark blue minivan with Ontario license plates spotted in the vicinity through CCTV footage. When Zeng attempted to re-enter the U.S. the following month in the same vehicle, he provided conflicting information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
Upon inspection of his phone, agents discovered numerous images of military aircraft, which Zeng initially claimed were for a flight radar website, citing plane photography as a hobby. However, the phone also contained images of individuals in tactical gear holding firearm replicas, which Zeng explained as part of his interest in airsoft guns.
Further investigation revealed that Zeng had been paid by an individual referred to as the “Chinese contact” to photograph specific planes and tail numbers, with Zeng believing the contact was associated with a Chinese security agency. Zeng disclosed that he and the contact had connected through a Chinese aviation enthusiasts’ forum in 2024.
Zeng detailed a complex communication method he used with the contact, involving receiving new SIM cards via mail every few months, which he would then utilize in his Huawei cell phone. The SIM cards were to be destroyed after use to maintain secrecy in their communications.
In an interview with the FBI, Zeng admitted to being instructed by the contact in October 2025 to capture images from within a FedEx facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Despite being confronted by a FedEx employee, Zeng managed to photograph the exterior of the building and shared the images with the contact for compensation.
During court proceedings in Detroit, a prosecutor argued that Zeng posed a flight risk due to being a foreign national with apparent ties to espionage activities. Zeng agreed to remain in custody during a subsequent hearing, confirming his understanding through a Mandarin interpreter.
The allegations against Zeng remain unproven in court, with uncertainties surrounding his academic program and arrival in Canada. The University of Waterloo declined to comment on the matter, stating their policy of refraining from discussing ongoing criminal cases.
While Waterloo police were not involved in the investigation, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa denounced the heightened focus on a supposed ‘China spy threat,’ denouncing unfounded allegations and criticisms against China.