16/04/2026
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16/04/2026
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NAIROBI, Apr 15: A Chinese national has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1 million Kenyan shillings (about $7,700) by a Nairobi court after attempting to smuggle more than 2,200 ants out of Kenya.
The man, identified as Zhang Kequn, was arrested on March 10 at Nairobi’s international airport after authorities discovered the insects concealed in test tubes inside his luggage. Among them were 1,948 specimens of the prized Messor cephalotes, a species highly sought after in the global exotic pet trade.
According to authorities, the ants were destined for markets in China, the United States, and Europe, where they can fetch significant prices as collectible pets.
Zhang initially faced charges of wildlife trafficking without a permit and conspiracy, but the latter was dropped. He later pleaded guilty. Presiding judge Irene Gichobi criticized his conduct, describing him as lacking remorse and stressing the need for strict penalties to curb the growing illegal trade in insects, which poses ecological risks.
The court ordered that Zhang serve a one-year jail term and pay the fine, after which he will be deported.
The case follows a similar incident last year in which two Belgian teenagers were caught with nearly 5,000 ants and fined, highlighting a rising trend in ant smuggling across East Africa. Meanwhile, a Kenyan national accused of supplying ants to traffickers has pleaded not guilty, with his case still ongoing.
