Kenyan Authorities Bust Ant Smugglers With Over 5,000 Insects

We have a rather unusual story from Kenya involving the trafficking of ants yes, ants. Two Belgians, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan have been arrested for attempting to smuggle over 5,000 live ants out of the country, allegedly destined for exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia.

The suspects appeared before the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport court on Monday and Tuesday, where they pleaded guilty to the charges. They requested leniency, with one foreign national admitting, “It was by accident and stupidity we did it.”

The ants were hidden in test tubes and syringes, specially modified to keep them alive for up to two months, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Authorities praised the arrests as a significant milestone in the battle against wildlife trafficking.

The estimated street value of the ants is about one million Kenyan shillings, or roughly $7,800. Some of the smuggled queen ants belonged to the Messor cephalotes species commonly known as the giant African harvester ant a species native to Kenya and reportedly highly sought after and difficult to acquire.

While ants may seem like pests to many, there is a growing community of enthusiasts who keep them in transparent artificial nests, marveling at their ability to create complex colonies.

Kenyan officials noted that this unprecedented case highlights a shift in trafficking trends from large, iconic animals to lesser-known but ecologically vital species.

The court is set to review pre-sentencing reports on April 23rd. For now, the four remain in custody, and the outcome of their case remains uncertain.