A Chinese national was detained at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while trying to smuggle a large quantity of queen garden ants out of Kenya, as reported by BBC.
Zhang Kequn was caught during a security inspection when officials discovered a significant number of live ants in his travel bag that were en route to China.
While he has not yet provided a defense against the charges, investigators informed the court that he is allegedly associated with an ant-smuggling network that was disrupted in Kenya last year.
These ants, classified under international biodiversity laws, have trade restrictions due to their protected status.
Last year, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) issued a warning regarding the rising demand for garden ants, known scientifically as Messor cephalotes, in Europe and Asia, where collectors seek them for personal enjoyment.
During the court session on March 11, a state prosecutor revealed that Zhang had stored several ants in test tubes, while others were hidden within rolls of tissue paper in his luggage.
"Within his personal baggage, officials found 1,948 garden ants packed in specialized test tubes," prosecutor Allen Mulama told the court. "Additionally, 300 live ants were discovered concealed inside three tissue paper rolls within the bag."
The prosecutor also requested the court's approval for a forensic examination of the suspect's phone and laptop.
Duncan Juma, a high-ranking official from KWS, indicated to BBC that additional arrests might follow as the investigation broadens to include other Kenyan areas believed to be involved in ant harvesting.
In a precedent-setting judgment last May, a Kenyan court sentenced four individuals—including two Belgians, a Vietnamese, and a Kenyan—to a year in jail or a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for attempting to smuggle thousands of queen ants from the country. The four suspects acknowledged their guilt after being apprehended in what KWS termed "a coordinated, intelligence-led operation."
The Belgians stated during their trial that they collected the prized ants as a hobby and weren't aware of the legal implications.
Authorities are reportedly saying that Zhang may have been the orchestrator behind this trafficking ring, having fled Kenya last year using a different passport.
During the court proceedings on March 11, prosecutors were given permission to hold Zhang for five days to carry out further inquiries.
The KWS, typically focused on the protection of more prominent wildlife such as lions and elephants, regarded the previous year's ruling as a significant milestone.
The ants that were seized last year, termed giant African harvester ants by KWS, are noted for their vital ecological role, with their absence posing a risk to soil health and biodiversity.
It is believed that the intended recipients of the ants were exotic pet markets located in Europe and Asia.
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