A Chinese national has been sentenced to a year in prison for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen garden ants out of Kenya. The court in Nairobi on Wednesday also fined Zhang Kequn 1 million Kenyan shillings (£5,713; $7,737). Judge Irene Gichobi described Zhang as not 'entirely honest' and lacking in remorse. Last month, he was charged with illegally dealing in wildlife species after being arrested at Nairobi's main airport while attempting to travel to China with more than 2,000 ants in his luggage. Kenyan authorities have warned of a growing demand for the ants in Europe and Asia, where they are prized by collectors. They can be worth around $220 (£170) each. Judge Gichobi noted the 'rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects', emphasizing the need for a stiff deterrent sentence. After serving his sentence, Zhang will be referred to his home country. He has 14 days to appeal against the sentence, which his lawyer states he will do. Initially pleading not guilty to charges including dealing in live wildlife, Zhang later changed his plea to guilty. He purchased the ants from a Kenyan national for 10,000 Kenyan shillings (£58; $77) for every 100, and his supplier, Charles Mwangi, is currently out on bail after being charged as well.
One Year Sentence for Ant Smuggling in Kenya
One Year Sentence for Ant Smuggling in Kenya
A Chinese individual has been sentenced to one year in prison for attempting to smuggle thousands of queen garden ants out of Kenya. The case highlights the illegal wildlife trade and the growing demand for these insects in international markets.
Zhang Kequn was caught trying to smuggle over 2,000 live ants from Kenya to China, leading to a year-long prison sentence and a hefty fine. The Nairobi court emphasized the need for severe repercussions against wildlife trafficking due to its ecological impact. Authorities have noted an increasing demand for such insects in Europe and Asia.
