Chinese national given one year in prison for smuggling ants out of Kenya

Zhang Kequn was arrested in March while trying to travel to China with more than 2,000 live ants. Chinese national sentenced to a year in prison for smuggling ants out of Kenya Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The man was found with a large consignment of live ants in his luggage bound for China in March Garden ants each individually packed in test tubes Chinese national given one year in prison for smuggling ants out of Kenya A Chinese national has been sentenced to a year in prison for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen garden ants out of Kenya. The court in Nairobi on Wednesday also fined Zhang Kequn 1m Kenyan shillings (£5,713; $7,737). Judge Irene Gichobi described Zhang as not "entirely honest" and lacking in remorse. Last month, he was charged with illegally dealing in wildlife species after being arrested at Nairobi's main airport while attempting to travel to China with more than 2,000 ants in his luggage. Kenyan authorities have warned of a growing demand for the ants in Europe and Asia, where they are prized by collectors. They can be worth around $220 (£170) each. "There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence," Judge Gichobi said, noting the "rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects". After serving his year in prison, Zhang will be "referred to his home country", she added. He has 14 days to appeal against the sentence, which his lawyer says he will do. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges - including dealing in live wildlife - but later changed his plea to guilty. Following Zhang's arrest at Nairobi's international airport on 10 March, the court heard he had bought the ants from Kenyan national Charles Mwangi at 10,000 Kenyan shillings (£58; $77) for every 100 of them. Mwangi was also charged and is currently out on bail. In May last year, a Kenyan court sentenced four men - two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan - to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for trying to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country. In May last year, a Kenyan court sentenced four men - two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan - to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for trying to The insects were reportedly destined for collectors in Europe and Asia. Two giant African harvester ants - reddish in colour - seen on some rocks One ant for $220: The new frontier of wildlife trafficking Chinese national charged for trying to smuggle 2,000 ants from Kenya Gang who smuggled thousands of queen ants sentenced in Kenya A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Diesel prices rise by a record margin despite a reduction in value added tax. Becky Chaplain, an occupational therapist, is now helping burns patients in West Africa. Campbell Scott, 58, was found dead in a sack in Makongo Forest in February last year. Abubakar Malami was seen as one of the most influential ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Roelf Meyer played a key role as a negotiator during talks to end white-minority rule in South Africa. As the conflict enters its fourth year, journalist Mohamed Suleiman shudders at what has been lost. The conflict, which erupted in 2023, has left behind a human toll which is "simply staggering", reports the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher. The separatists say their decison reflects responsibility, restraint and respect for human dignity.