Four suspects, including three foreigners and one Kenyan, have pleaded guilty to illegally possessing thousands of queen ants in a rare wildlife trafficking case. The group was arraigned at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts on Monday, April 14.
Two Belgian nationals were arrested in Naivasha on April 5 with around 5,000 live queen ants packed inside over 2,000 plastic tubes. Authorities say the insects had an estimated value of Ksh1 million on the black market.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the two were charged with trading in protected wildlife species without permits.
This is a violation under Section 95(c) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
Queen ants are surprisingly valuable. Some species can be sold for between Ksh200 and Ksh15,000 depending on size, rarity and demand. The market is especially active among insect collectors and breeders overseas.
In a separate incident, a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan accomplice were caught with 400 queen ants at a hotel in Nairobi and an apartment in Syokimau. Their stash was estimated to be worth Ksh200,000.
All four suspects appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku and admitted guilt. The court postponed the case to April 15 to allow the prosecution to present the full facts and exhibit the seized ants.
Until then, the suspects will stay in custody at JKIA Police Station. The final ruling is expected to draw widespread attention from wildlife conservationists and international agencies.
Kenya has been tightening its grip on illegal wildlife trade, especially through its airports and border points. Authorities have warned that the trafficking of insects is becoming a new threat to local ecosystems.
Past cases have shown that queen ants and other insects are being smuggled for scientific experiments, breeding, or exotic pet trade.
In 2023, suspects were arrested trying to export safari ants worth Ksh300,000 to France.
The current case is one of the largest in recent memory involving insect smuggling, and conservationists hope it sends a strong message.
By Kenyans