US EditionKenya Charges Duo for Allegedly Smuggling Thousands of Live Ants
Zhang Kequn and Charles Mwangi face charges for smuggling nearly 2,000 live queen ants valued at $7,700 without permits amid rising demand in Europe and Asia.
- On Tuesday, a Nairobi court charged Zhang Kequn, 27, Chinese national, and Charles Mwangi with transporting wildlife illegally after Zhang was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last week.
- Prosecutors allege Charles Mwangi supplied live ants to foreign traffickers and handled the species without permits required under Kenya's wildlife conservation laws.
- Evidence presented included CCTV footage from Moonlight Hotel in Nakuru showing Mwangi supplying ants to Zhang on 5th March 2026, and recovered items: 1,000 unpackaged live garden ants, 113 live ants in modified syringes, and 503 empty syringes.
- The court ordered both men remanded in custody pending further directions, with a remand date set for March 27; Mwangi was detained at Langata police station for three days and both suspects remain in custody.
- The case highlights a growing trend of smuggling ants to European and Asian markets, with Kenyan authorities valuing the seized insects at 1 million shillings .
48 Articles
48 Articles
Chinese National Charged With Smuggling 2,000 Ants From Kenya
Smuggling wildlife usually brings to mind elephants or exotic birds—but ants? That’s exactly what authorities in Nairobi say they uncovered in a surprising airport bust.A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, and his Kenyan associate Charles Mwangi have been charged with illegally trading wildlife. Officials allegedly found more than 2,000 live queen garden ants hidden in luggage at the city’s international airport.Each ant was carefully packed—either …
The ants were discovered at Kenyatta airport in a suitcase belonging to the Chinese suspect.
Local authorities have warned of a growing demand for the ants in Europe and Asia.
There has been an increased demand for Kenyan garden ants among European and Asian pet owners.
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