Ant Smuggler Receives One-Year Jail Sentence in Kenya

A Chinese national has been handed a one-year prison sentence and fined by a Nairobi court for attempting to smuggle thousands of ants out of Kenya. This lucrative trade in east Africa was exposed last year, with the insects primarily destined for China, the US, and Europe, where they are sold as pets and can fetch around $100 each.

The issue of ant smuggling gained significant attention last year when two Belgian teenagers were arrested with nearly 5,000 ants, mostly stored in small test tubes, and were subsequently fined about $7,700.

The Case of Zhang Kequn

Zhang Kequn, who evaded capture until his arrest on 10 March, had been linked to another case involving two individuals, one Vietnamese and one Kenyan. More than 2,200 ants, including 1,948 prized Messor cephalotes, were found in test tubes in Zhang’s luggage at Nairobi’s international airport, destined for China.

Zhang was initially charged with wildlife trafficking without a permit and conspiracy, which carries a seven-year sentence. However, he pleaded guilty after the latter charge was dismissed.

In court, Judge Irene Gichobi described Zhang as lacking remorse and “not an entirely honest person”. She imposed a fine of 1m Kenya shillings ($7,700) and a one-year jail sentence, with the option to appeal within 14 days. Following the sentence, Zhang will be referred back to his home country.

Judge Gichobi emphasized the need for a stiff deterrent sentence, citing the “rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side-effects”.

In a related case, Kenyan Charles Mwangi is accused of selling ants to three people convicted last year. Mwangi has pleaded not guilty, and his case is ongoing, according to his lawyer.