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NAIROBI, Kenya - A Nairobi Court on Monday received one of Kenya’s strangest criminal cases, involving a man accused of supplying live garden ants to foreigners.

Charles Mwangi was arraigned at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) court after police recovered a shocking haul from his home. It included:

• 1,000 unpackaged live garden ants
• 113 live ants packaged in modified syringes, and 
• 503 empty syringes.

Prosecution counsel John Tago told the court that at the time of arrest, Mwangi directed investigators to a hotel in Nakuru.

“Follow-up checks at Moonlight Hotel in Nakuru showed that he had supplied ants to a Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, on March 5, 2026. CCTV footage confirms this transaction.”

Another prosecution counsel Mercy Katsivo added, “The suspect is linked to the consignment of garden ants seized in Bangkok on March 10, 2026, which originated from Mombasa. Investigations indicate he has accomplices in Naivasha, Mombasa, and Kajiado counties.”

According to Tago, Mwangi had previously supplied ants in April 2025 to three suspects-- Vietnamese, Belgian, and Kenyan nationals--who were subsequently arrested and charged in JKIA Law Court.

“This is not an isolated case; it appears to be part of a wider network,” he said.

Senior Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi directed that Mwangi be detained at Langata Police Station for three days while investigations continue.

She also noted, “We must ensure all links in this unusual supply chain are fully traced.”

The case is scheduled to be mentioned again on Friday.

This bizarre trade, spanning Kenya, Asia, and Europe, has left authorities scrambling to unravel the network and raised eyebrows internationally.