Teen tourists admit guilt in Kenya's first ant trafficking case
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Kenyan prosecutors have charged two Belgian teenagers and two other men with wildlife trafficking after authorities intercepted a large haul of live ants intended for exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia.
The suspects aged 19 and travelling on tourist visas were arrested on 5 April in possession of around 5,000 queen ants packed in 2,244 syringes and test tubes filled with cotton wool.
The species, Messor Cephalotes, also known as the Giant African Harvester Ant, is highly prized by collectors.
Authorities valued the shipment at 1 million Kenyan shillings ($7,800). The modified tubes were designed to keep the ants alive for up to two months while avoiding airport security detection, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
"This is a premeditated and well-executed trafficking operation," KWS said in a statement, calling it a landmark case in the fight against biopiracy. The agency added that the attempt to smuggle ecologically vital species marks a shift from trafficking large mammals to lesser-known organisms.
Two other men — a Vietnamese national and a Kenyan — were arrested separately with 400 ants and also pleaded guilty.
During a court hearing on Tuesday, one of the Belgians, David Lornoy, told the judge they had collected the ants "for fun" and were unaware of Kenyan wildlife laws. "By accident and stupidity we did," he said, asking the court for leniency.
Photo: REUTERS
The court has adjourned the case until 23 April. All four men remain in custody while pre-sentencing reports are prepared by the KWS, National Museums of Kenya and the probation office.
Ant experts say Messor Cephalotes queens can sell for more than £99 ($132) each. A British seller, AntsRUs, described them as a dream species, though the retailer is currently out of stock.
Exporting native wildlife from Kenya without authorisation violates biodiversity laws, and officials stressed the case highlights the need for global cooperation to protect genetic resources.
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