A Chinese national has been arrested at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after authorities discovered more than 2,200 live garden ants hidden in his luggage — the latest incident in a growing trend of insect smuggling in Kenya.
According to court documents seen by Reuters, 27-year-old Zhang Kequn was detained on Tuesday as he attempted to depart the country. Immigration officials had earlier placed a stop order on his passport after he allegedly evaded arrest during a previous visit to Kenya last year.
The global trade in exotic ants has surged, with enthusiasts willing to pay high prices to keep colonies in formicariums — transparent enclosures that showcase the insects’ intricate social behaviour.
Kenyan authorities have increasingly been cracking down on this niche form of wildlife trafficking. Last year, four men were each fined $7,700 for attempting to smuggle thousands of ants considered ecologically important to Kenya. Experts described the case as evidence of a shift in biopiracy from traditional wildlife trophies, such as ivory, to lesser-known but commercially valuable species.
Investigators said a search of Zhang’s luggage uncovered 2,238 ants, with 1,948 stored in test tubes and the remainder wrapped in three rolls of soft tissue paper. Zhang, who had been in Kenya for two weeks, allegedly identified three accomplices who supplied him with the insects.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) told the court it requires additional time to complete its investigation, including examination of an iPhone and MacBook seized from Zhang.
KWS also revealed that a similar shipment of ants intercepted in Bangkok on Tuesday was traced back to Kenya, suggesting the existence of a wider, well-organised ant smuggling network.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
