Kenyan authorities have arrested four individuals attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants, including the coveted Messor Cephalotes species, also known as the Giant African Harvester Ant, to international exotic pet markets. The case, hailed as a major victory by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), is set to highlight the growing issue of wildlife trafficking.
The smuggled ants, concealed in modified test tubes and syringes designed to sustain the insects for up to two months, were intercepted by authorities at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Investigations revealed that the smugglers had meticulously planned the operation to bypass security measures and evade detection.
According to KWS, about 5,000 queen ants, with an estimated street value of approximately 1 million Kenyan shillings ($7,800), were found packed into 2,244 containers. The smuggling operation was focused on the Messor Cephalotes species, a popular ant among enthusiasts who keep them in formicariums to observe their complex colony-building behavior.
The four smugglers, two Belgians, one Vietnamese, and one Kenyan, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of illegal wildlife possession and trafficking. They appeared in court again on Tuesday, where one of the Belgian suspects, David Lornoy, expressed regret. “We did not come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity, we did,” he told the court, asking for leniency.
The case has been adjourned until April 23, when the court will review pre-sentencing reports from KWS, the National Museums of Kenya, and the probation officer. The smugglers remain in custody.
In the ant trade, obtaining a license from KWS and a health certificate is necessary to legally export Messor Cephalotes. A source familiar with the trade confirmed the species’ high demand and difficulty in obtaining, noting that it is a prized commodity in exotic pet markets.
KWS hailed the operation as a landmark case in the fight against biopiracy, as it involves the illegal export of Kenya’s genetic resources without consent or benefit-sharing, violating local laws. The KWS noted that this case represents a shift in trafficking trends from iconic large mammals to lesser-known species that play vital ecological roles.
The British retailer AntsRUs, a specialist in the sale of exotic ants, described Messor Cephalotes as “truly amazing to visually observe” and noted that queens of the species are highly sought after for their striking red and brown/black coloration. A queen from the species is listed on their website for 99.99 pounds ($132.44), though they are currently out of stock.