Wafric News – May 7, 2025

Nairobi Bureau - A court in Kenya has sentenced four men — including two Belgian nationals, a Vietnamese, and a Kenyan — to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 each, after they were caught attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country.

The group was apprehended last month in possession of more than 5,000 giant African harvester ants, a protected species increasingly sought after by collectors across Europe and Asia. The insects, some of which are reportedly valued at over $200 each in foreign markets, were carefully packed in test tubes lined with cotton wool to survive long-distance transport.

Appearing before Magistrate Njeri Thuku, the accused pleaded guilty, claiming ignorance of the illegality of their actions. The Belgian pair, both 19, insisted they were hobbyist collectors. However, the court rejected this defense, noting the scale of the collection far exceeded what could be considered a personal pastime.

“Collecting a few ants might pass as a hobby,” Magistrate Thuku stated during sentencing. “But being found with 5,000 queen ants is beyond that — it is exploitation and possibly bio-piracy.”

The case has drawn widespread attention for its focus on insect trafficking — a rarely prosecuted but rapidly growing form of illegal wildlife trade. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which led the investigation, hailed the ruling as a strong message that all forms of wildlife trafficking — big or small — will be met with the full force of the law.

According to court documents, Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx were found with thousands of ants in their rented accommodation in Naivasha, a town famed for its natural reserves. Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen, described as a courier, had over 300 ants in his possession. Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a was said to have acted as a local broker, exploiting his knowledge of rural ant colonies for profit.

The court ordered that the three foreign nationals be deported upon completion of their sentences or payment of fines. All four men have 14 days to appeal the ruling.

KWS described the incident as a "landmark case," underscoring the growing threat posed by the international demand for rare insects. "This is a wake-up call. Bio-piracy is not limited to iconic species like elephants and rhinos," a KWS spokesperson said.

The agency further warned that the removal of queen ants in large numbers could seriously affect local ecosystems, particularly soil health and biodiversity.

Investigations revealed that David, one of the Belgians, belonged to an online community known as the "Ant Gang" and had previously kept ant colonies at home. He admitted to purchasing thousands of queen ants in Kenya for just $200, hoping to expand his collection.

Experts fear that such illicit transactions are part of a wider trend where lesser-known species are targeted for global pet or collector markets, often with little regard for their ecological value.

“Traffickers tend to underestimate the importance of smaller species,” KWS said in a statement, “but the role they play in maintaining natural balance is irreplaceable.”

The case reaffirms Kenya’s strict stance on wildlife trafficking, with KWS vowing to increase surveillance and enforcement not just for iconic animals, but for all forms of life under protection.


By WafricNews Desk.