A Chinese national has been arrested at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for attempting to traffic over 2,000 live queen garden ants out of Kenya, authorities confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Zhang Kequn, was intercepted during a security screening while preparing to board a flight to China. Prosecutors presented evidence in court stating the insects were concealed within specialised test tubes and tissue paper rolls hidden in his luggage. Investigators documented that 1,968 ants were packed in test tubes, with an additional 300 placed inside three rolls of tissue paper.
The ants, scientifically classified as Messor cephalotes, are giant African harvester ants protected under international biodiversity conventions, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Their commercial trade is strictly regulated. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has previously highlighted a rising demand for these ants in European and Asian markets, where they are sought after by collectors as exotic pets.
Authorities believe Zhang may be connected to a broader ant-trafficking network that Kenyan officials disrupted in 2023. The investigation remains active, with detectives examining his electronic devices and expecting further arrests. A court has granted prosecutors a five-day detention order to support the ongoing inquiry.
KWS officials warn that removing these ants from their natural habitat poses a serious threat to local ecosystems. As key decomposers, Messor cephalotes play a vital role in soil aeration, nutrient cycling, and maintaining biodiversity. Their depletion could disrupt ecological balance in the regions where they are native.
The case underscores Kenya’s enforcement of wildlife trafficking laws and its commitment to protecting endemic species from illegal international trade. Continued surveillance at entry and exit points, coupled with cross-border cooperation, is deemed essential to combat the growing exotic pet market that targets African invertebrates.
