Overview

• The suspects, arrested on April 5, include two Belgians, one Vietnamese national, and one Kenyan, all of whom pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking charges.
• Authorities seized 5,000 Giant African Harvester Ants, a protected species, valued at approximately £6,000, destined for exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia.
• The traffickers used modified test tubes and syringes with cotton wool to sustain the ants for up to two months and evade airport security detection.
• Kenya Wildlife Service and conservationists warn this case reflects a broader shift in trafficking focus from iconic large mammals to smaller, ecologically critical species.
• Sentencing is scheduled for April 23, with pre-sentencing reports from Kenyan agencies under review to guide the court's decision.