A Chinese national was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday, March 11, while attempting to smuggle nearly 2,000 queen garden ants out of Kenya. Authorities say the suspect is linked to a global garden ants trafficking syndicate.
Smuggling Attempt Foiled
According to investigators from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the suspect, identified as Zhang Kequn, was intercepted in the early hours of Tuesday as he tried to export the live insects to China.
Officials said part of the ants were packed in specialized test tubes, while about 300 live ants were concealed in tissue paper rolls hidden inside his luggage.
“His personal search, and within that luggage 1,948 garden ants were packed in specialised test tubes. A further 300 live ants were also recovered which were again concealed in three rolls of tissue,” said Allen Mulama, prosecutor at JKIA Law Courts.
Links to Previous Trafficking Cases
The arrest comes nearly a year after a similar attempt was foiled at the same airport, where two Belgian nationals, one Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan were caught attempting to smuggle 5,000 giant African harvester ants to China.
Investigators now believe these previous cases are connected to the same trafficking ring believed to be coordinated by Zhang Kequn.
Court Proceedings and Investigations
Zhang Kequn was arraigned before Magistrate Njeri Thuku, who allowed prosecutors to detain him for five days to enable further investigations. Forensic analysis of his phones and laptop is ongoing.
Detectives have also extended their probe to towns such as Nakuru and Naivasha, where ant harvesting is suspected to be taking place. Authorities warn that the illegal wildlife trade poses a serious threat to Kenya’s biodiversity and ecological balance.
Wildlife Experts Warn Against Ant Trafficking
Experts say trafficking queen garden ants is particularly concerning because these ants are vital for soil aeration, pest control, and maintaining ecological balance. Removing them from their natural habitats could have long-term environmental impacts.
The Kenya Wildlife Service has reiterated its commitment to combating illegal wildlife trade and urged travelers to report suspicious activity related to wildlife trafficking at airports and border points.
