In Kenya, two young Belgians sentenced for attempting to illegally export around 5,000 ants
David L. and Seppe L., two Belgian teenagers from Mol in the province of Antwerp, became internationally known on April 5: Kenyan police from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, accompanied by inspectors from the Kenya Wildlife Service, discovered about 5,000 ants stored in syringes and test tubes in their hotel room in Naivasha, Northwest of Nairobi.
The two friends, ages 19 and 18, claimed at the time that they were unaware that capturing these insects was illegal under Kenyan law and that they were simply pursuing a "hobby." This version has since been widely challenged following investigations by the Belgian press.
Appearing before a magistrate on charges of "biopiracy" in mid-April, the two Belgians cited their "stupidity" and "naivety." Appearing in court alongside a Vietnamese and a Kenyan national, they were let off with a relatively light sentence and each was fined €6,800 on May 7, before being allowed to return to Belgium the following day.
Highly sought after by enthusiasts
Kenyan law imposes fines of up to €140,000, and even prison sentences, for trafficking in species that could disrupt the ecosystem. Penalties can be even harsher elsewhere. An Italian man and his son were fined €188,000 in Sri Lanka for attempting to export various insects in 2024, while in 2019, a Japanese butterfly and cockroach enthusiast was sentenced to two years in prison in Ecuador.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
17 hours ago
- France 24
Two UK men jailed for 'brazen' gold toilet heist
James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, were jailed at Oxford Crown Court in central England for four years and 27 months respectively. The sentences came as it was revealed that Sheen is already serving 19 years in jail for a string of other offences including a museum burglary and attacks on cash machines. The fully functioning 18-carat artwork was stolen in a raid on an exhibition at Blenheim Palace -- the birthplace of Winston Churchill -- near central Oxford in September 2019. The toilet artwork dubbed "America" was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and had been on display as one of the star attractions at an exhibition in the 18th-century home. Passing sentence, Judge Ian Pringle said: "This bold and brazen heist took no more than five-and-a-half minutes to complete. "America has never been seen again." Weighing around 98 kilograms (216 pounds), the artwork was insured for $6 million and was made with 20 kilograms of gold valued at around £2.8 million. It was stolen just hours after a glamorous exhibition launch party by the sledgehammer-wielding thieves. Prosecutors said the work was likely broken up or melted down and sold soon after the theft. The gold has not been recovered. It is believed that Sheen took the 20 kilos of gold to the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter on September 2019 and sold it for £26,000 a kilogram -- earning £520,000. Jurors heard earlier that Sheen first got in touch with a third man, Frederick Doe, two days after the raid to ask if he could help him sell some of the gold. Doe replied to Sheen in a WhatsApp message: "I do know just the man you need to see." The 37-year-old, described by a judge as a "foolish" middleman, escaped jail for his role in the heist. He was handed a suspended sentenced last month after being found guilty of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Jones previously said he used the toilet at Blenheim Palace the day before it was taken. Asked what it was like, he told the court it was "splendid". Sheen admitted burglary and money laundering offences. Judge Pringle said his four-year jail term would be added to the 19 years he is already serving. Jones was found guilty of burglary after an earlier trial.
LeMonde
a day ago
- LeMonde
In Kenya, two young Belgians sentenced for attempting to illegally export around 5,000 ants
David L. and Seppe L., two Belgian teenagers from Mol in the province of Antwerp, became internationally known on April 5: Kenyan police from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, accompanied by inspectors from the Kenya Wildlife Service, discovered about 5,000 ants stored in syringes and test tubes in their hotel room in Naivasha, Northwest of Nairobi. The two friends, ages 19 and 18, claimed at the time that they were unaware that capturing these insects was illegal under Kenyan law and that they were simply pursuing a "hobby." This version has since been widely challenged following investigations by the Belgian press. Appearing before a magistrate on charges of "biopiracy" in mid-April, the two Belgians cited their "stupidity" and "naivety." Appearing in court alongside a Vietnamese and a Kenyan national, they were let off with a relatively light sentence and each was fined €6,800 on May 7, before being allowed to return to Belgium the following day. Highly sought after by enthusiasts Kenyan law imposes fines of up to €140,000, and even prison sentences, for trafficking in species that could disrupt the ecosystem. Penalties can be even harsher elsewhere. An Italian man and his son were fined €188,000 in Sri Lanka for attempting to export various insects in 2024, while in 2019, a Japanese butterfly and cockroach enthusiast was sentenced to two years in prison in Ecuador.
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Kenyan policeman arrested in blogger's death as hundreds protest
15:21 Issued on: In tonight's edition, Kenyan authorities arrested a police constable in the death of a political blogger who was in custody, as angry protests rage in Nairobi. Also, Gambians have been growing increasingly worried by the devastation being caused by a growing fishmeal processing industry on their shores. And Nigeria's cost of living crisis has reached the relatively affluent class of dog owners, who are struggling to feed their pets because of soaring food costs.
