Chinese Citizen Arrested in Kenya for Attempting to Smuggle Over 2,000 Queen Ants

A Chinese citizen has been arrested at Kenya’s main airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 queen ants. These ants are protected under international biodiversity conservation agreements, and their trade is strictly regulated.

The suspect, Zhang Kekun, was detained during a security check at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Authorities discovered a large number of live ants inside his luggage, which were reportedly being transported to China.

Investigators said the accused has not yet responded to the charges. However, they told the court that he is suspected of being linked to an ant smuggling network that was dismantled in Kenya last year.

Last year, the Kenya Wildlife Service warned about the growing demand for certain garden ant species in Europe and Asia. The scientific name of the species is Messor cephalotes, and collectors often keep them as pets.

State prosecutor Allen Mulama told the court that Zhang had packed some of the ants inside specialized test tubes, while others were hidden in rolls of tissue paper inside his luggage. Authorities recovered 1,948 ants packed in test tubes and about 300 more live ants hidden in three tissue paper rolls.

The prosecution has requested the court’s permission to conduct forensic examinations of the suspect’s electronic devices, including his mobile phone and laptop, to gather further evidence.

A senior official of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Duncan Zuma, told the BBC that investigations are also underway in other Kenyan cities where the ants may have been collected. More arrests are likely as the investigation continues.

In May last year, a Kenyan court sentenced four people to one year in prison or a fine of 7,700 US dollars for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country. The suspects included two Belgians, one Vietnamese and one Kenyan, all of whom pleaded guilty after their arrest.

Experts say African harvester ants play a crucial role in the environment. Removing them from their natural habitat can damage soil health and disrupt biodiversity. Authorities believe the ants were intended for sale in the pet markets of Europe and Asia.

Source: BBC