Story perspectives

Chinese National Sentenced for Smuggling 2,200 Live Ants

4/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Nairobi court sentenced Chinese national Zhang Kequn to one year in prison and fined him 1 million shillings for attempting to smuggle over 2,200 live garden ants out of Kenya.
Zhang Kequn was arrested at Nairobi's international airport.
He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea.
Magistrate Irene Gichobi cited ecological consequences to justify the deterrent sentence.
Kenyan man Charles Mwangi is implicated in the case and has pleaded not guilty.

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Story summary

The Nairobi court sentenced Chinese national Zhang Kequn to one year in prison and fined him 1 million shillings for attempting to smuggle over 2,200 live garden ants out of Kenya.
Zhang Kequn was arrested at Nairobi's international airport.
He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea.
Magistrate Irene Gichobi cited ecological consequences to justify the deterrent sentence.
Kenyan man Charles Mwangi is implicated in the case and has pleaded not guilty.