A Chinese citizen, Zhang Kequn, has been detained at Kenya’s primary airport following an attempted smuggling operation. The incident occurred at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, where authorities intercepted a substantial quantity of live queen mallow seeds. According to reports from BBC News, relayed through Telegrafi, the discovery took place during a routine security screening.
The shipment, containing over 2,000 queen mallows, was found within his luggage, with a destination of China. Zhang Kequn remains silent regarding the accusations against him. However, investigators presented evidence linking him to a trafficking network specifically targeting these protected seeds.
This network was successfully dismantled in Kenya last year. Queen mallows are subject to stringent regulations due to their status as protected species under international biodiversity treaties. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) previously issued a warning about a significant increase in the trade of these plants.
The investigation continues, focusing on the illicit movement of the queen seeds and the individuals involved in this operation. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to safeguard vulnerable plant species and enforce international conservation laws.
Topics: #queen #chinese #citizen
