The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued a statement following the conclusion of a court case involving the illegal trafficking of ants.
In a notice dated April 16, KWS stated that the case involved the unlawful export of the ant species Messor cephalotes.
The ants had been illegally collected and were being trafficked out of the country without permission.
The matter was reported to the authorities and later prosecuted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, where the case went through the full legal process before reaching its conclusion.
The wildlife agency confirmed that the court found one of the accused persons, Zhang Kuquen, a Chinese national, guilty of the offense.
Following the ruling, the court imposed a sentence that included both a financial penalty and a prison term, as provided under Kenyan law.
“Following the conclusion of the court proceedings, one of the accused, Zhang Kuquen, a Chinese national, has been convicted and sentenced to a fine of Kenya Shillings One Million (Ksh. 1,000,000) or, in default, to serve one (1) year in prison with an additional 1-year imprisonment.”
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KWS Sends Message on Protecting Lesser‑Known Wildlife Species
KWS said the outcome of the case sends a clear message that Kenya takes wildlife protection seriously, not only for large and well-known animals but also for smaller species that are often overlooked.
The authority explained that ants, although small, play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
KWS also noted that ants contribute to important environmental processes such as improving soil structure through aeration, spreading seeds across different areas, and helping recycle nutrients back into the soil.
These roles support plant growth and overall biodiversity, making their protection just as important as that of larger wildlife.
“This ruling underscores the seriousness with which Kenyan courts treat wildlife crimes, including the illegal trafficking of lesser-known but ecologically critical species such as ants,” noted KWS.
In its statement, KWS also raised concern over the growing global demand for invertebrates such as ants, beetles, and other insects.
The authority warned that this demand is driving an increase in illegal trade, placing pressure on species that do not usually receive much attention in conservation efforts.
KWS urged increased awareness and vigilance, noting that protecting biodiversity requires safeguarding all species, regardless of their size.
The authority said it remains determined to enforce the law and asked members of the public to keep reporting any suspicious wildlife-related activities so that such crimes can be stopped.
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Chinese National Arrested at JKIA While Attempting to Smuggle About 2,000 Ants
The Chinese national, Zhang Kuquen, was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 2,000 queen garden ants out of Kenya.
According to the arresting authorities, the Chinese national had earlier escaped arrest in 2025 by using a different passport to board a flight to China.
KWS says Zhang Kuquen was intercepted in the early hours of March 11, as he attempted to smuggle nearly 2,000 sealed queen garden ants into China.
According to KWS, some of the ants were concealed in test tubes, and others were wrapped in tissue paper.
“Personal luggage was searched, and within that luggage, there were found 1,948 garden ants. They were packed in special test tubes, which is now a departure from the syringes that we saw in 2025,” Allan Mulama, a prosecutor at JKIA, stated.
The authority reported the arrest of the Chinese national was made a year after another attempt was busted, where two Belgian nationals, one Vietnamese, and a Kenyan were arrested at the same airport with 5,000 giant African harvester ants bound for China.
