Authorities in Kenya have arrested a Chinese national after discovering more than 2,200 live garden ants hidden in his luggage at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The suspect, Zhang Kequn, 27, was detained on Tuesday while attempting to leave the country. Immigration officials had already placed a stop order on his passport after he allegedly evaded arrest in Kenya last year.
Investigators said a search of his luggage uncovered 2,238 ants, with 1,948 stored in test tubes and the rest wrapped in soft tissue paper. Authorities believe the insects were meant for collectors who keep ant colonies in special transparent habitats known as formicariums, which allow enthusiasts to observe their social behavior.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, the suspect had been in the country for about two weeks and mentioned three accomplices who may have helped supply the insects. Officials are now examining devices seized from him, including an iPhone and a MacBook.
Wildlife authorities say the case reflects a growing trend in biopiracy, where traffickers target lesser-known species instead of traditional wildlife trophies like ivory. A similar shipment of ants originating from Kenya was also recently seized in Bangkok, suggesting the existence of a wider smuggling network.
Source: TRT Africa
