A Chinese national and a Kenyan have been charged in Nairobi with running an alleged illegal operation to traffic thousands of live ants.
Zhang Kequn, 37, who arrived in the country on a tourism visa late last month, and his associate, 35-year-old Charles Mwangi, appeared before senior principal magistrate Irene Gichobi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Law Courts on Tuesday.
The two face multiple counts related to dealing in live wildlife specimens without a permit, contrary to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
According to the prosecution, law enforcement officers intercepted a consignment on March 10.
Prosecution counsel John Tago and Mercy Katsivo presented evidence to the court that Kequn and Mwangi were found dealing in a significant number of live insects.
The seizure included 1,948 garden ants packaged in specialised tubes and 300 live ants wrapped in three rolls of tissue paper. The pair did not possess the required permit for the transaction.
Mwangi faces an additional, separate count of dealing in live wildlife species arising from a second incident on March 13 in Gilgil town.
It is claimed he was found in possession of another 1,000 live ants contained in a basin, alongside 113 garden ants stashed inside specialised syringes.
Authorities also recovered 503 empty syringes packed in a white sack, all allegedly intended for the same unlawful trade.
The prosecution further charged the duo with conspiracy to commit a felony, alleging that between March 10 and 13, they collaborated to orchestrate the alleged illegal trade in the insects.
Financial transactions between the two were also detailed in court. The prosecution said Kequn paid Mwangi Sh60,000 for a consignment of 600 live ants, followed by an additional Sh70,000 for another batch of 700 live ants.
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A point of contention arose during the bail application for the foreign national. The Director of Public Prosecutions raised objections to releasing Kequn on bond, arguing that he presents a significant flight risk due to his recent entry into Kenya.
The court was informed that Kequn entered the country on a tourist visa on February 27 and lacks a fixed abode or established ties to the local community, factors the DPP argued could affect his attendance at trial.
Magistrate Gichobi acknowledged the pleas and scheduled the case for mention on March 27.
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