In brief
In a recent case highlighting the growing threat of biopiracy, four men, including two Belgian teenagers, pleaded guilty in a Kenyan court for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants.
The captured ants were shown in court, packed in tubes with cotton to help keep them alive. Credit...Monicah Mwangi/Reuters By Ali Watkins April 17, 2025, 8:09 a.m. ET In a remarkable wildlife smuggling case, four men, including 19-year-old Belgians David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, recently pleaded guilty in a Kenyan court for their involvement in the illegal trafficking of an impressive number of live queen ants. The Kenyan authorities stated that the captured ants were intended for sale in exotic pet markets throughout Europe and Asia. This incident occurred at a guesthouse near Lake Naivasha, an area well-known for its natural beauty and diverse fauna.The Kenya Wildlife Service reported that the smugglers had thousands of live queen ants, carefully packed in syringes and test tubes engineered to prolong their survival during transit. The total estimated worth of the smuggled ants was around $7,000. Intelligence reports indicated that the ants were highly sought after due to their value among rare insect collectors, emphasizing a shift in wildlife smuggling trends towards less conventional species.This case not only underscores a significant aspect of the illegal wildlife trade but also emphasizes a concerning trend towards the smuggling of lesser-known species, even those that wouldn't typically be associated with high monetary value. Instances of live beetles hidden within snack foods from Japan and coral being smuggled through U.S. borders are growing, indicating an alarming pattern in wildlife trafficking.The Kenya Wildlife Service released a statement underlining the implications of this arrest, referring to the massive threat that biopiracy poses to local biodiversity. The unauthorized extraction of species undermines the national rights over genetic resources, depriving local communities and research bodies of the potential ecological and economic benefits tied to their native species.The specific species of the ants seized, Messor cephalotes, are notable for being the largest harvester ants globally. They are prized by insect collectors who maintain colonies for viewing complex social structures within artificial environments known as formicariums. Additionally, in a separate case, two other individuals, Dennis N’gang’a from Kenya and Vietnamese Duh Hung Nguyen, faced charges of collecting ants unlawfully and dealing with wildlife. They were caught in possession of hundreds of garden ants valued at around $1,500. As the men involved in the initial smuggling case await sentencing, their court appearance revealed their remorse as they expressed that they had been collecting the ants merely for leisure. The ramifications of this case extend beyond individual accountability, spotlighting a significant global concern regarding biodiversity and the illegal wildlife trade. Edwin Okoth contributed reporting. Ali Watkins covers international news and is based in London.
