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4d ago

Four Guilty in Kenyan Ant Trafficking Case Highlighting Biodiversity Crime Shift

Two Belgian teens, a Vietnamese man, and a Kenyan national face sentencing after admitting to smuggling over 5,400 queen ants, a lucrative trade threatening ecosystems.

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Belgian national Lornoy David, center, who admitted to charges related to the illegal possession and trafficking of live queen ants to sell as exotic pets, walks out of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A relative of Belgian national David Lornoy reacts during presentation of pre-sentencing report where David and another Belgian national Seppe Lodewijckx pleaded guilty of illegal possession and trafficking of garden ants, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, in Nairobi, Kenya April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi
Belgian nationals Lornoy David, left, and Seppe Lodewijckx, right, who admitted to charges related to the illegal possession and trafficking of live queen ants, walk out of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Overview

  • Kenyan police seized 5,440 queen ants at Nairobi airport, concealed in modified test tubes and syringes, during a raid near Hell's Gate National Park on April 5.
  • The suspects, including two Belgian teenagers, pleaded guilty to illegal possession and trafficking of giant African harvester ants and await sentencing on May 7.
  • Prosecutors valued the seized ants at $9,300 locally, but their worth could have exceeded $1 million in European markets due to high demand from exotic pet collectors.
  • Experts warn the removal of queen ants jeopardizes savannah ecosystems, as these ants play a critical role in seed dispersal and soil health in Kenya's Rift Valley.
  • The case underscores a shift in wildlife trafficking trends, with organized crime diversifying from iconic species like elephants to ecologically vital insects.