Federal agents and local police executed a dramatic early-morning raid on a home in northeast Las Vegas this weekend, where authorities uncovered a biological lab. The facility contained refrigerators full of unidentified vials and possible biological material.
So far, the unprecedented discovery has prompted a multi-agency investigation, and one person has been taken into custody.
Bizarre Details Of The Las Vegas Biological Lab
Las Vegas police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at a residence near Sugar Springs Drive and Hollywood Avenue on Saturday. This triggered a large response, including SWAT officers and hazmat teams. Officials with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said investigators uncovered what they described as evidence of “biological material.” During the search, law enforcement found multiple refrigerators containing vials of unknown liquid.
Metro Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that crews carefully recovered the items from the home and identified no immediate public safety threats. The raid was a concerted effort across several agencies. LVMPD collected more than 1,000 samples and secured them; the FBI later transported them to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center in Maryland for further testing.
The search also led to the arrest of 55-year-old Ori Solomon, identified as the property manager for the house. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a felony charge related to the improper disposal of hazardous waste. However, authorities have not disclosed whether additional charges are forthcoming.
Agents also removed three other residents from the home. Officials said they were not believed to be connected with the investigation. The suspected biological lab was primarily located in a locked garage, where most of the samples and equipment were stored.
Connection to Past California Biolab Case
Property records reviewed by investigators indicate that the Las Vegas homeowner is linked to a prior biological laboratory investigation in Reedley, California. According to the Las Vegas Sun, in that 2023 case, authorities apprehended the owner, a Chinese national, on charges of importing unapproved COVID-19, pregnancy, and HIV test kits. In an unauthorized move, he labelled them as FDA- and CDC-approved.
During the California investigation, authorities said the lab generated about $1.7 million in revenue. The Department of Justice also reported thousands of vials labeled with indications of various pathogens. Those reportedly included HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, and some vials were labeled “Ebola.”
A U.S. Congressional Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party further documented concerns about the facility in question. They noted the use of genetically modified mice to simulate human immune responses and raised serious questions about animal welfare and biosafety.
Although the same owner has been linked to both biological labs, the attorney for the individual arrested in California earlier noted his client’s federal custody at the time and stressed that he was not involved in the Las Vegas case. No official charges have yet been filed against the owner in connection with the latest discovery.
Inside The Investigation Process On The Case
At a press briefing, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto said the samples secured from the Las Vegas home are now destined for advanced testing at a federal bioforensics center. This step will determine their nature and any potential risk. Delzotto noted that initial investigative work indicated no immediate threat to the public or the surrounding neighborhood.
The search required a coordinated effort among multiple agencies, including hazmat crews who collected air and surface samples. Sheriff McMahill told the public that the large law enforcement presence was necessary to manage the scene’s complexity and the unknown materials involved.
