Belgian Teens Plead Guilty in Kenyan Ant Smuggling Case

The case sheds light on the rising trend of smuggling lesser-known species, as the Kenyan authorities emphasize the ecological and economic implications of unauthorized wildlife collection.

Four men, including two Belgian teenagers, have pled guilty to wildlife trafficking charges concerning thousands of live queen ants in Kenya. The teenagers, David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, both aged 19, were apprehended at a guesthouse near Lake Naivasha with the insects, reportedly intended for sale in exotic pet markets across Europe and Asia, according to Kenyan authorities.

The ants, valued at approximately $7,000, were meticulously packed in syringes and test tubes, designed to prolong their survival. Kenyan officials noted that the case exemplifies a disturbing trend where even smaller, less-renowned species are targeted for smuggling, indicating an evolving landscape in wildlife trafficking. Past incidents have included live beetles concealed in snack food from Japan and bits of coral being smuggled through U.S. ports.

The Kenya Wildlife Service highlighted the broader implications of such illegal activities, warning against the "biopiracy of native species" that jeopardizes the country's biological diversity and its associated benefits for local ecosystems and communities.

The specific queen ants involved in this incident belong to the Messor cephalotes species, recognized as the world's largest harvester ant, prized by insect collectors who maintain colonies in artificial farms known as formicariums for observational purposes. In addition to the Belgians, two other individuals, Dennis N’gang’a from Kenya and Vietnamese citizen Duh Hung Nguyen, were charged separately for their involvement in the illegal collection of garden ants valued at around $1,500.

Images released by the Kenya Wildlife Service displayed a living area filled with test tubes, cotton, and other packing materials indicative of their smuggling operation. During their recent court appearance, Lornoy and Lodewijckx expressed remorse and claimed their intent was merely for recreation. They are currently awaiting sentencing.