Kenyan Court Sentences Four Over Illegal Queen Ant Smuggling
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"Kenya jails four over attempt to smuggle 5,000 queen ants in landmark wildlife crime case."
A Kenyan court has sentenced four individuals 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.
The convicted individuals include two Belgian nationals, a Vietnamese citizen, and a Kenyan, who were arrested last month while in possession of thousands of live ants. Authorities believe the ants were intended for collectors in Europe and Asia.
The Belgian suspects claimed they were collecting the ants as a hobby and were unaware of the legal restrictions. However, Magistrate Njeri Thuku dismissed the argument, stating that “being found with 5,000 queen ants is beyond a hobby.”
“Already the world has lost a number of species due in part to greed. It is time to stem this tide,” she said. “This court will do what it can to protect all creatures great and small.”
Among the ants seized were the giant African harvester species, which can sell for up to £170 ($220) each in the UK. The ants were stored in over 2,000 test tubes filled with cotton wool to help them survive.
The suspects — Belgians Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx (both 19), Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen (23), and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a (26) — received similar sentences. David, who belongs to an online group called “Ant Gang,” told the court he had previously bought 2,500 queen ants for $200 and was unaware his actions were illegal.
Nguyen was described by the court as a courier, while Ng’ang’a was labeled a broker due to his knowledge of the native species. Both were convicted of involvement in the illegal wildlife trade and possible bio-piracy.
Upon paying the fine or completing their prison terms, the three foreign nationals will be deported. They have 14 days to appeal the decision.
In response, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) welcomed the ruling, calling it a strong statement against wildlife trafficking. It emphasized the crucial ecological role of the ants in maintaining soil health and biodiversity.
“This case highlights the growing threat posed by the illegal trade in smaller, often overlooked species,” KWS said, calling the judgment a “landmark case” that reinforces Kenya’s zero-tolerance policy on wildlife crimes.
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