In Kenya, a Chinese citizen has been convicted and sentenced to one year in jail after being caught in an attempt to smuggle over 2,000 live ants out of the country.
The convict, Chinese ant smuggling Kenya case who was fined one million Kenyan shillings, was sentenced to jail for violating wildlife regulations.
Arrest in Nairobi International Airport
Zhang Kequn was arrested in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after he attempted to take thousands of live garden ants to China, stowed away in his suitcase.
Zhang had been charged with dealing in wildlife species, which is a criminal offense in Kenya.
Judgement and Sentence
Judge Irene Gichobi indicated that Zhang was not totally honest throughout the trial and showed little remorse for his actions.
It is noted by the court that it is essential to create a strong warning, as there were rising cases of ants being sold illegally.
Zhang changed his plea from not guilty to guilty during the proceedings. Zhang has 14 days to appeal against the verdict, which will be done by his lawyer.
Increasing Demands for Queen Ants
The government of Kenya has also reported rising demand for queen ants in Europe and Asia, where collectors value them immensely.
These queen ants may fetch prices as high as $220 per insect, which makes them profitable targets for the illicit wildlife trade networks.
Connection to the Local Vendor
According to the court proceedings, Zhang is alleged to have obtained the queen ants from a local Kenyan, Charles Mwangi, who is under arrest and out on bail.
Based on the court hearings, the ants were purchased for 10,000 Kenyan shillings for every 100 ants.
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Previous Cases in Kenya
This is not the only case in the country, with the other case in May last year involving four suspects, two of whom were Belgian nationals, and another a Vietnamese, and the fourth a Kenyan, found guilty of trying to smuggle thousands of queen ants.
These insects, too, were said to be meant for collectors in Europe and Asia.
Conclusion
Through the sentencing, it is clear that there have been increased efforts by the authorities to crack down on the activities of those involved in smuggling wildlife, including less common animals like the ants, due to the ecological effects such smuggling might bring about.
FAQs
Why was the Chinese man arrested?
The man was arrested for trying to smuggle more than 2,000 queen ants from the country.
How long was he sentenced?
One year in prison and a fine of 1 million shillings.
Where was he caught?
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Why are people smuggling ants?
Queen ants are highly sought after by collectors in Europe and Asia and therefore sell for a lot of money.
Others who were involved?
A Kenyan national charged with helping supply the queen ants was freed on bail.
