Four men face prison for smuggling rare ants out of Kenya

Two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan man, could face prison time after they pleaded guilty to smuggling thousands of live ants out of Kenya. 

The case is being called a major victory in the fight against wildlife trafficking and biopiracy by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The group was caught with around 5,000 queen ants packed in 2,244 modified containers, including test tubes and syringes. Many of the ants belonged to the rare Messor cephalotes, also known as the giant African harvester ant. The ant is a species native to Kenya and highly desired by exotic insect collectors in Europe and Asia.

Authorities say the four men had designed the tubes to keep the ants alive for up to two months and avoid detection at airports. The ants were placed between cotton wool to survive long journeys, showing clear signs of planning.

The street value of the ants was estimated at €6,800, with a single queen ant selling for over €130. The British insect retailer AntsRUs described the species as “truly amazing,” noting their size and colorful appearance.

One of the Belgian men told the court: “We didn’t come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity, we did.” But Kenyan officials say the operation was professional and serious.

The group was arrested in a rented holiday home around 100 kilometers from Nairobi. They appeared in court this week, and their sentencing is expected on April 23, after a report from the Kenya Wildlife Service and other authorities.

Kenya sees this case as a shift in trafficking patterns, from big animals like elephants to lesser-known but ecologically important species. 

The KWS said the smugglers violated national laws and international rules on genetic resource sharing, including the Nagoya Protocol.