NAIROBI, Kenya — A Chinese national has been arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after authorities intercepted more than 2,000 queen garden ants allegedly being smuggled out of Kenya.
Investigators from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) say the suspect, Zhang Kequn, was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday as he prepared to ship the insects to China.
Authorities believe the suspect is a key figure in a global ant trafficking network targeting rare or valuable insect species.
According to prosecutors, officers discovered the ants concealed inside the suspect’s luggage during a search at the airport.
“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 during court proceedings.
Investigators said some of the insects had been carefully sealed inside test tubes, while others were hidden in tissue paper rolls to evade detection.
The suspect was later arraigned at the JKIA Law Courts before Magistrate Njeri Thuku.
The court allowed prosecutors to detain Kequn for five days to enable investigators to carry out forensic analysis on electronic devices recovered from him, including mobile phones and a laptop.
Authorities say the arrest may be linked to a wider wildlife trafficking ring that has been under investigation for months.
The case comes nearly a year after another smuggling attempt was foiled at the same airport when two Belgian nationals, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan citizen were arrested with about 5,000 giant African harvester ants allegedly destined for China.
Investigators now believe the earlier arrests may be connected to the same trafficking network suspected to be coordinated by Kequn.
Detectives have expanded their probe beyond Nairobi, launching investigations in Nakuru, Naivasha and other towns where illegal harvesting of ants is believed to be taking place.
Wildlife authorities warn that the illegal trade in insects and other wildlife species has grown in recent years as collectors and research markets drive demand for rare species.
KWS says the ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the trafficking network and identify other individuals involved in harvesting and exporting the insects.
