A Chinese national and his Kenyan business partner are facing wildlife trafficking charges after being caught at Nairobi’s international airport with over 2,000 live queen garden ants concealed in their luggage.
Zhang Kequn was apprehended last week when customs officials uncovered the unusual cargo — hundreds of ants individually packed into test tubes or wrapped in tissue paper. Authorities allege that Zhang had sourced the insects from local associate Charles Mwangi, paying 10,000 Kenyan shillings (about $77) per hundred ants. Zhang’s bags were bound for China at the time of his arrest.
When the case came before a Nairobi court on Tuesday, both men were charged with illegally dealing in protected wildlife species, as well as conspiracy to commit a felony. Mwangi faces an additional charge stemming from a separate incident in which he was found in possession of more live ants. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody pending their next court appearance on March 27.
Defense attorney David Lusweti argued that his clients were unaware they had done anything illegal. “They have seen potential that they are able to sell outside the country,” he told the Associated Press. “They believe that they can make a living out of it.”
Kenyan wildlife authorities say the case is part of a broader and troubling trend. Demand for queen garden ants has been rising steadily among hobbyist collectors in Europe and Asia, where the insects are kept as exotic pets. The Kenya Wildlife Service has signaled that more arrests are likely as investigators trace suspected ant-harvesting operations to other towns across the country.
It is not the first time Kenyan courts have dealt with such cases. Last May, four men were sentenced to either one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 after attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants to collectors overseas — a sign that what might seem like a niche crime is becoming an increasingly serious conservation concern.
