A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya, for attempting to smuggle over 2,000 queen garden ants out of the country.
The ants, packed in test tubes and tissue paper rolls, were bound for China, where they’re highly sought after as exotic pets.
Investigators believe Zhang is linked to an ant-trafficking network that was broken up in Kenya last year.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warned that the trade is highly regulated, and removal of these ants could disrupt soil health and biodiversity.
Zhang has been detained for five days to allow further investigations, including forensic analysis of his electronic devices.
The KWS has also extended its probe to other Kenyan towns suspected of ant harvesting.
