NAIROBI, Kenya — A Chinese national has been sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen garden ants out of Kenya in a case that highlights growing concerns over illegal wildlife trafficking involving lesser-known species.
A court in Nairobi also fined Zhang Kequn 1 million Kenyan shillings (about £5,713; $7,737). Judge Irene Gichobi said the accused was not “entirely honest” and showed little remorse during proceedings.
Zhang was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after authorities discovered more than 2,000 live ants concealed in his luggage. He was reportedly attempting to transport them to China.
He was later charged with illegal dealing in wildlife species, contrary to Kenya’s wildlife protection laws.
The court heard that Zhang had initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty.
Kenyan authorities have raised concerns over increasing international demand for rare insects, particularly in parts of Europe and Asia, where live queen ants are traded among collectors and enthusiasts at high prices.
Officials estimate that some species can fetch up to $220 (£170) per ant on the black market, making them a lucrative target for traffickers.
Judge Gichobi warned of the ecological risks posed by such activities.
“There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence,” she said, noting the “rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects”.
After serving his one-year sentence, Zhang will be “referred to his home country”, the court ruled.
He has 14 days to appeal the decision, and his lawyer has indicated that an appeal will be filed.
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Court proceedings revealed that Zhang allegedly purchased the ants from a Kenyan national, Charles Mwangi, at a rate of 10,000 Kenyan shillings (about £58; $77) per 100 ants.
Mwangi has also been charged in connection with the case and is currently out on bail.
The case adds to a growing list of wildlife trafficking prosecutions involving insects and invertebrates in Kenya.
In May last year, a Kenyan court sentenced four men, two Belgians, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan, to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 after they attempted to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country.
Authorities say such cases point to a niche but expanding illegal trade targeting biodiversity-rich countries like Kenya.
