A Chinese national has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined by a Nairobi court for attempting to smuggle thousands of ants out of Kenya.
The case highlights a growing and unusual wildlife trade that has recently emerged across East Africa.
The insects are often destined for markets in China, the United States, and Europe, where exotic ants are kept as pets.
Individual specimens can fetch prices of up to around 100 US dollars on the international black market.
The case drew renewed attention after Belgian teenagers were arrested last year with nearly 5,000 ants stored in test tubes.
In the latest ruling, Zhang Kequn was found with more than 2,200 ants hidden in his luggage at Nairobi’s international airport.
Authorities said 1,948 of the insects were the prized messor cephalotes species, highly sought after by collectors.
Zhang had evaded arrest until March 10 and was previously linked to a wider trafficking investigation.
He initially faced wildlife trafficking and conspiracy charges, which carried a potential seven-year prison sentence.
After one charge was dropped, he pleaded guilty to the remaining offence in court.
Judge Irene Gichobi said Zhang showed no remorse and described him as “not an entirely honest person”.
She imposed a fine of one million Kenyan shillings and a one-year prison term, subject to a short appeal window.
The judge stressed the need for strong deterrents amid rising cases of ant trafficking and ecological concerns.
Authorities say the illegal trade threatens fragile ecosystems and disrupts natural biodiversity across the region.
In a related case, Kenyan national Charles Mwangi is accused of supplying ants to several convicted smugglers.
Mwangi has denied the charges, and the case remains before the court, according to his legal representative.