Chinese National Arrested at Nairobi Airport for Smuggling 2,300 Live Queen Garden Ants

Kenyan authorities have arrested a Chinese national identified as Zhang Kequn at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after discovering more than 2,300 live queen garden ants concealed in his luggage, in what officials describe as a major wildlife trafficking case linked to the exotic pet market.

The arrest occurred on March 11, 2026, following a five-day surveillance operation by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) investigators. During a routine security check, officers found 1,948 queen ants carefully packed in transparent test tubes, with an additional 300 or so hidden inside tissue paper rolls, totaling around 2,238 to 2,300 ants destined for shipment to China.

Prosecutors told the JKIA Law Courts that Zhang, aged 27, is suspected to be the mastermind of an international ant-trafficking syndicate. He had reportedly evaded capture in Kenya the previous year using a different passport, prompting immigration officials to place a “stop order” on his current travel documents. The court granted a five-day detention at Lang’ata Police Station to allow forensic examination of his phones and laptop.

Queen garden ants are highly sought after in Asia’s booming underground exotic pet trade. Live queens can fetch high prices, up to $220 or more per individual, among hobbyists who establish ant colonies in artificial formicariums to observe their complex social behaviors. Kenya prohibits unlicensed export of such wildlife under its conservation laws.

This incident highlights a rising trend in insect smuggling from East Africa, following similar cases in recent years involving thousands of queen ants intercepted en route to Asian markets. Authorities suspect local accomplices supplied the ants to Zhang during his two-week stay in the country.

The Kenya Wildlife Service and police continue investigations into the broader network behind the attempted export.