NAIROBI: Kenyan authorities have arrested a Chinese national accused of attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 live queen ants out of the country.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Zhang Kequn, was detained at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while preparing to board a flight to China.
Investigators discovered about 2,238 garden ants in his luggage, including 1,948 packed inside specialised test tubes while another 300 were hidden in rolls of tissue paper.
Officials believe the insects were intended for collectors overseas, where queen ants are sought after for starting ant colonies kept in formicariums.
Authorities say the case may be linked to a wider wildlife-trafficking network, with further investigations ongoing and additional arrests possible.
