Chinese National Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Smuggling Ants from Kenya
A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1 million Kenyan shillings ($7,737) by a Nairobi court for attempting to smuggle over 2,000 live queen garden ants out of Kenya. Arrested at Nairobi's international airport in March while bound for China, Zhang initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea. Judge Irene Gichobi imposed the sentence as a stiff deterrent against the rising trade in wildlife species, noting Zhang's lack of remorse and the negative ecological impacts of such trafficking. The ants, purchased from a local supplier for approximately $77 per 100, are highly valued by collectors in Europe and Asia, fetching up to $220 each. Following his prison term, Zhang will be deported to China. His lawyer intends to appeal the verdict within 14 days. This case mirrors a similar incident in May last year where four individuals received comparable sentences for smuggling ants. Kenyan authorities continue to warn against the growing demand for these insects, emphasizing the legal and environmental consequences of illegal wildlife dealing.
Wire timeline
Chinese National Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Smuggling Ants from Kenya
A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1 million Kenyan shillings ($7,737) by a Nairobi court for attempting to smuggle over 2,000 live queen garden ants out of Kenya. Arrested at Nairobi's international airport in March while bound for China, Zhang initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea. Judge Irene Gichobi imposed the sentence as a stiff deterrent against the rising trade in wildlife species, noting Zhang's lack of remorse and the negative ecological impacts of such trafficking. The ants, purchased from a local supplier for approximately $77 per 100, are highly valued by collectors in Europe and Asia, fetching up to $220 each. Following his prison term, Zhang will be deported to China. His lawyer intends to appeal the verdict within 14 days. This case mirrors a similar incident in May last year where four individuals received comparable sentences for smuggling ants. Kenyan authorities continue to warn against the growing demand for these insects, emphasizing the legal and environmental consequences of illegal wildlife dealing.
BBC News