Kenya Jails Four Over Attempt to Smuggle Thousands...

Kenya Jails Four Over Attempt to Smuggle Thousands of Queen Ants Abroad

Zim Now Writer

A Kenyan court has sentenced four men, including two Belgian teenagers, to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 each for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country.

Authorities said the ants—particularly a distinctive, red-colored harvester species native to East Africa—were being trafficked to collectors in Europe and Asia, highlighting a growing trend in the illegal trade of lesser-known wildlife species.

Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on April 5 with 5,000 live ants at a guesthouse in Nakuru County, an area known for its national parks. The teens claimed they were collecting the ants as a hobby and were unaware it was illegal.

However, Magistrate Njeri Thuku ruled that their actions were serious, noting the high number and value of the ants. She dismissed the argument of naivety, stating that the scale of the collection indicated more than casual interest.

The Kenya Wildlife Service emphasised the ecological and economic impact of such crimes, warning that the trafficking of native insect species undermines Kenya's sovereignty over its biodiversity and deprives local communities and research bodies of potential benefits.

The teenagers’ lawyer, Halima Nyakinyua, said the sentencing was fair and that her clients would not appeal, as the prescribed penalties left no room for reduction.

In a related case, a Vietnamese national, Duh Hung Nguyen, and a Kenyan, Dennis Ng'ang'a, received the same sentence after being caught with 400 ants. Nguyen said he had been sent to collect the insects, while Ng’ang’a claimed ignorance of the law, stating that ants are commonly sold and eaten locally.