{"id":160397,"date":"2026-04-15T15:52:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:52:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/chinese-man-gets-one-year-for-smuggling-ants-from-kenya"},"modified":"2026-04-15T17:01:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:01:46","slug":"chinese-man-gets-one-year-for-smuggling-ants-from-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/chinese-man-gets-one-year-for-smuggling-ants-from-kenya","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Man Gets One Year for Smuggling Ants from Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

What You Need to Know<\/h4>\n

A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, has been sentenced to one year in prison for attempting to smuggle over 2,000 ants from Kenya. Arrested at Nairobi airport, he faced charges related to wildlife trafficking. The ants, valued for various uses, were primarily destined for markets in China, the US, and Europe. Zhang was also fined $8,000 or an additional year in prison.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Africa-Press – Kenya. <\/strong> <\/span>A Chinese national has been sentenced to a year in prison for attempting to smuggle ants out of Kenya.<\/b><\/p>\n

Zhang Kequn was arrested at Nairobi airport last month with more than 2,000 ants hidden in his luggage.<\/p>\n

“Mr Zhang had been charged initially with dealing with wildlife species without a permit, and in addition, conspiracy to commit a felony,” his lawyer Daivd Lusweti said.<\/p>\n

“He negotiated with the prosecution and the charge for conspiracy was dropped, and he remained with the charge for dealing with wildlife species without a permit, where he promised to plead guilty.”<\/p>\n

The insects were mostly destined for China, the US and Europe, where they’re prized as delicacies, aphrodisiacs and pets. A single ant can be worth up to $100.<\/p>\n

Zhang will also have to pay a fine equivalent to about $8,000 dollars or serve another year in prison.<\/p>\n

Sentencing Zhang on Wednesday, Judge Irene Gichobi described him as lacking remorse and “not an entirely honest person.”<\/p>\n

“There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence,” she said, noting the “rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects.”<\/p>\n

Kenyan Charles Mwangi also appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with selling the ants to Zhang and to three people convicted of the same crime last year. They included two Belgian teenagers who were arrested in possession of 5,000 ants. They were fined but didn’t face prison time.<\/p>\n

Mwangi has pleaded not guilty and his case is ongoing.<\/p>\n

Wildlife trafficking has become a significant issue in Kenya, where the rich biodiversity attracts illegal trade. The country has stringent laws to protect its wildlife, but enforcement remains a challenge. Cases like Zhang’s highlight the ongoing struggle against smuggling operations that threaten ecological balance and biodiversity. The demand for exotic species in international markets continues to drive these illegal activities, prompting authorities to impose harsher penalties to deter offenders.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Kenya<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What You Need to Know A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, has been sentenced to one year in prison for attempting to smuggle over 2,000 ants from Kenya. Arrested at Nairobi airport, he faced charges related to wildlife trafficking. The ants, valued for various uses, were primarily destined for markets in China, the US, and Europe. 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