Two Belgian teenagers have been arrested in Kenya on charges of wildlife trafficking after authorities discovered they were in possession of 5,000 live ants, hidden in test tubes. This case, officials say, highlights the growing issue of trafficking lesser-known species.
Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were detained on April 5 at a guesthouse in Nakuru County. At their court appearance in Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Law Courts, the visibly distressed teens were comforted by family members. They claimed they were simply collecting the ants “for fun” and had no idea their actions were illegal.
The ants, including the Messor cephalotes species — 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 case, Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a and Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen were also charged with illegal possession and trafficking of 400 ants, discovered in their apartments in Nairobi.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), these incidents reflect a shift from trafficking larger, iconic species like elephants and rhinos, to smaller but ecologically significant 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 sovereignty over its natural resources, but also threatens ecological balance,” said KWS in a statement.
The 5,000 ants were packed into 2,244 test tubes filled with cotton wool to keep the insects alive during transport. Kenyan authorities estimated the total value of the smuggled ants at approximately 1 million Kenyan shillings ($7,700), although prices can vary depending on the species and destination.
Philip Muruthi, Vice President for Conservation at the African Wildlife Foundation, emphasized the importance of ants in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
“Ants enrich soils, aid in seed germination, and provide food for a variety of species, such as birds,” he explained. “A thriving forest like Ngong is not just about the trees — it’s about the interconnected relationships between all organisms, from bacteria to ants to larger animals.”
Muruthi also warned that smuggling insects across borders could introduce diseases that might harm ecosystems and agricultural industries in the destination countries.
“Even if there is trade, it should be regulated,” he added. “No one should be taking our resources without proper consent or control.”
