Summary
A Chinese man named Zhang Kequn was sentenced to one year in prison and fined in Kenya for trying to smuggle over 2,000 live queen garden ants to China. The court said the illegal trade harms the environment and warned that demand for these ants is growing in Europe and Asia.
Key Facts
- Zhang Kequn was caught at Nairobi's airport carrying over 2,000 live queen ants in March.
- He received a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 1 million Kenyan shillings (about $7,700).
- Judge Irene Gichobi said Zhang was not fully honest and showed no remorse.
- The ants are valuable to collectors, selling for around $220 each.
- Zhang originally denied the charges but later admitted guilt.
- He bought the ants from a Kenyan man named Charles Mwangi, who was also charged and released on bail.
- Similar cases happened last year, with four men from different countries sentenced for smuggling queen ants.
- After prison, Zhang will be sent back to China and has 14 days to appeal the sentence.
