2 found with hundreds of ants accused of illegal wildlife trafficking in Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya — A Chinese national and a Kenyan man were charged Tuesday with illegally dealing in wildlife species after they were found in possession of hundreds of live ants stored in special tubes.

The case centers on alleged ant trafficking in the East African country, where authorities last year described a growing trend in the smuggling of ants to markets in Europe and Asia. Officials have not said whether the ants are sought as pets or for other purposes.

The suspects, identified as Zhang Kekun and Charles Mwangi, appeared in court in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime.

Prosecutors say Kekun was getting the ants from Mwangi, who allegedly paid 60,000 Kenyan shillings ($463) for an initial batch of 600 ants and 70,000 shillings ($540) for another batch of 700.

The suspects were arrested on March 10 after officers found 1,948 garden ants, stored in special tubes, and an additional 300 ants in tissue rolls. Prosecutors say the suspects do not have licenses required under Kenya’s wildlife protection laws to handle or trade such species.

Mwangi faces a separate charge after being found with more live ants.

The accused remain in custody.

Kekun’s lawyer, David Lusveti, told The Associated Press that the suspect did not know he was breaking the law.

“They see the potential of being able to sell outside the country, they believe they can make a living from it,” he said.

Last year two Belgian teenagers were charged with wildlife piracy after Kenyan authorities found 5,000 ants in test tubes as part of a trend to smuggle small and little-known species. The insects are said to be destined for European and Asian markets, and Kenyan authorities have valued the ants at 1 million shillings ($7,700).

At the time, the Kenya Wildlife Service said the illegal export of ants “not only undermines Kenya’s sovereign rights over biodiversity but also deprives local communities and research institutions of potential environmental and economic benefits”.

In a separate criminal case, last year, a Kenyan man and a Vietnamese national were charged with smuggling 400 ants.