A million thanks.

Dear friend,
"US microbiologists are so frightened of being hauled off in handcuffs for a minor administrative oversight that they have decided to avoid biodefence research entirely."
What does "being hauled off in handcuffs" mean here? Does it mean " be put into prison"?
A million thanks.

[Ouisch]

It means being arrested. Suspects are always handcuffed as a protective measure. Whether they go to prison or not depends upon many factors, including whether or not they go to trial.

[rewboss]

"haul" means something similar to "drag". It implies being arrested and taken away against one's will, and possibly not very gently.