A Kenyan court on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, jailed four men for attempting to smuggle thousands of protected ants out of the country.
The four men included two Belgians, a Vietnamese, and one Kenyan citizen.
Each convict must serve one year in prison or pay a fine of $7,700 (₦11.5 million).
Earlier, security operatives arrested the suspects last month in Naivasha, western Kenya.
According to Police investigation, over 5,000 live ants were found at their guesthouse during a routine search.
The men pleaded guilty to illegal possession and trafficking of protected insect species.
They claimed they collected the ants for a hobby and did not know it was illegal.
Kenya officials confirmed the insects as giant African harvester ants, a species protected under Kenyan and international laws.
Wildlife experts say collectors in Europe and Asia highly prize these ants as exotic pets.
Some dealers in the UK value individual ants at up to £170 ($220) each.
The two Belgian teenagers had 5,000 ants in containers.
Their Vietnamese and Kenyan accomplices were found with 300 additional ants.
The suspects planned to smuggle the insects out through tourist channels.
The magistrate stressed the ecological importance of the species during sentencing on Wednesday.
He said the group had collected “not just a few” but thousands of valuable creatures.
The court ruled their actions endangered biodiversity and violated key wildlife conservation laws.
However, the magistrate considered their cooperation and guilty pleas during sentencing.
He gave all four men equal penalties to serve justice and deter future offenders.
Kenya Wildlife service applauds the conviction
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) hailed the ruling as a landmark case in insect trafficking.
KWS said the case marked a disturbing trend toward smuggling lesser-known species.
“Traffickers are shifting from iconic mammals to tiny but vital species,” KWS stated.
The agency noted ants play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
KWS officers said they usually deal with elephant and lion poaching cases.
They now face increasing pressure to monitor insect trafficking as well.
Tourism and wildlife laws under scrutiny
The Belgian teens entered Kenya on tourist visas.
They stayed in Naivasha, a town famous for lakes and wildlife.
Investigators believe the ants were destined for illegal sale in foreign pet markets.
Authorities say rare insect trade is tightly regulated under biodiversity treaties.
Kenya enforces these agreements to protect its fragile ecosystems.
The case sends a strong message to traffickers that no species is too small to protect.
Kenya vows to strengthen efforts against both large and small-scale wildlife crimes.
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