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A Chinese national has been arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, after allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 queen ants out of the country through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The suspect, identified as Zhang Kequn, was intercepted during a security check when authorities discovered a large number of live ants concealed in his luggage, which was bound for China.
According to prosecutors, the consignment included 1,948 garden ants packed in specialised test tubes, while an additional 300 live ants were hidden in rolls of tissue paper.
The insects are believed to be Messor cephalotes, commonly known as giant African harvester ants, which are protected under international biodiversity regulations due to their ecological importance.
A prosecutor in court, Allen Mulama, stated that investigators suspect Zhang may be connected to an international wildlife trafficking network that was dismantled in Kenya last year.
Authorities from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) say there has been increasing demand for queen ants in exotic pet markets across Europe and Asia, where collectors keep them as pets.
The court has granted investigators five days to detain Zhang while authorities examine his electronic devices, including his phone and laptop, as part of the ongoing investigation.
Officials say further arrests are likely as investigators expand the probe into ant harvesting activities in several towns across Kenya.
The wildlife agency noted that giant African harvester ants play a crucial ecological role in maintaining soil health and biodiversity, warning that removing them from their natural habitat could disrupt ecosystems.
