Thursday, April 17, 2025 - Two Belgian teenagers have been charged with wildlife piracy in Kenya after authorities found them in possession of 5,000 live ants packed in test tubes — a case that officials say highlights a growing trend in trafficking lesser-known species.
Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on
April 5 at a guest house in Nakuru County. During their court appearance at the
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Law Courts in Nairobi, the visibly
distressed teens were consoled by relatives. They claimed they were collecting
the ants "for fun" and were unaware that their actions were illegal.
Authorities said the ants, including the species Messor cephalotes — a large, red harvester ant native to East Africa — were being smuggled to international markets where they are sold as exotic pets.
In a separate but related case, Kenyan national Dennis
Ng’ang’a and Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen were also charged with illegal
possession and trafficking of 400 ants found in their Nairobi apartments.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the cases
mark a shift from the traditional trafficking of large, iconic species such as
elephants and rhinos to smaller, ecologically important creatures. KWS warned
that the illegal export of ants undermines Kenya’s biodiversity and deprives
local communities and research institutions of ecological and economic
benefits.
The export of these ants not only
violates Kenya's sovereign rights over its natural resources but also threatens
ecological balance," KWS said in a statement.
The 5,000 ants were discovered in 2,244 test tubes stuffed with cotton wool, which allowed them to survive long periods during transportation. Kenyan authorities estimated the total value of the insects at 1 million Kenyan shillings (approximately $7,700), though prices vary based on species and destination.
Philip Muruthi, Vice President for Conservation at the
African Wildlife Foundation, emphasized the ecological role ants play in
maintaining healthy environments.
"Ants
enrich soils, aid seed germination, and serve as food for various species such
as birds," he said. "When you see a thriving forest like Ngong, it’s
not just the trees — it's the relationships between organisms, from bacteria to
ants to larger animals.”
Muruthi also cautioned that smuggling insects across borders
risks introducing diseases that could damage ecosystems and agricultural
industries in importing countries.
“Even if
there is trade, it should be regulated. No one should be taking our resources
without consent or control,” he added.
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