A court in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, has drawn international attention as it presides over a case involving the illegal trafficking of live ants.
On April 15, 2025, two Belgians, a Vietnamese national and a Kenyan pleaded guilty to illegal possession and trafficking of live ants at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts.
Two Belgian teenagers, both aged 19 — identified as Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx — were charged with wildlife piracy after being found in possession of thousands of ants packed in test tubes. The pair were arrested on April 5 at a guest house with 5,000 ants stored in 2,244 syringes and test tubes filled with cotton wool.
The ants in question are the highly sought-after Messor cephalotes — a distinctive, large, red-coloured harvester ant native to East Africa. The rare species sells for over $130 each online.
In a separate case, Kenyan national Dennis Ng'ang'a and Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen were also charged with illegal trafficking in the same courtroom. They were arrested earlier in April while attempting to ship 400 ants in cleverly modified containers designed to keep them alive during long-haul transport.
The accused face charges under Section 95(b) of Kenya’s Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013 for dealing in live wildlife species without permission.
While trafficking of body parts from larger animals, such as elephants and rhinos, remains common in Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) described this case as marking 'a shift in trafficking trends — from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species'.
Officials hailed the arrests as a milestone in curbing the exotic wildlife trade, alleging the group trafficked ants to markets in Europe and Asia. Prosecutors revealed the suspects referred to themselves as the 'ant gang'.
KWS noted the sophisticated packaging used could sustain the insects for up to two months without food or water while evading airport security. Kenyan authorities estimated the seized ants' value at 1 million shillings ( $7,700), though prices vary widely by species and market demand.
Under Kenyan law, illegal possession or export of any wildlife species carries severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum fine of $10,000 and potential imprisonment for up to five years.
Sentencing is expected this week, with prosecutors pushing for stringent penalties to deter future offences.
Philip Muruthi of the Africa Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi emphasised ants' ecological importance, stating they enrich soils, aid seed germination, and provide food for species such as birds.
Illegal wildlife trade ranks among the world’s most lucrative criminal enterprises, with INTERPOL estimating its annual value at $20 billion.