Chinese National Sentenced to One Year for Smuggling Ants from Kenya

A Chinese citizen has been handed a one-year prison term for trying to smuggle over 2,000 live queen garden ants out of Kenya. In addition, the court in Nairobi fined him 1 million Kenyan shillings, equivalent to around £5,713 or $7,737. Judge Irene Gichobi criticized the individual for his lack of remorse and noted his dishonesty during the proceedings.

Zhang Kequn was arrested at Nairobi’s international airport on March 10 and charged with wildlife trafficking. He had purchased the ants from a Kenyan national, Charles Mwangi, at 10,000 shillings per 100 ants. Mwangi is currently under bail and faces similar charges. The court heard that Zhang intended to transport the ants to China, where they are highly sought after by collectors in Europe and Asia, often valued at up to $220 each.

“There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence,” Judge Gichobi stated, highlighting the “rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects.” She added that Zhang will be “referred to his home country” after completing his prison term.

Zhang initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty. His legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict within 14 days. This case follows a similar conviction in May of last year, where four men—two Belgians, one Vietnamese, and one Kenyan—received one-year sentences or fines of $7,700 for attempting the same act.

Kenyan authorities have warned about the increasing demand for the ants, emphasizing their ecological impact if released in foreign environments. The sentence aims to discourage such activities, as the ants are considered a threat to local biodiversity.

Follow BBCAfrica on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica for more updates from the African continent.