Four individuals, including three foreigners and one Kenyan, are expected in court in connection with an unusual case of wildlife trafficking involving garden ants. The suspects are facing charges at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) court related to the illegal possession and attempted exportation of live ants, an offense under Kenyan wildlife protection laws.
Authorities revealed that the defendants—two Belgian nationals, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan—are being charged under section 95(b) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013. This law prohibits dealing in live wildlife species without the appropriate permits and is part of Kenya’s broader effort to combat illegal wildlife trade.
The suspects are expected to take a plea on April 14, 2025, following their apprehension by wildlife and airport officials. Although it remains unclear where the suspects had originally acquired the ants, they were intercepted at JKIA with several live specimens in their possession. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials have confirmed that the case represents part of a broader crackdown on the trafficking of unconventional wildlife species.
This incident underscores a growing concern about the trafficking of lesser-known species such as ants, which are increasingly being targeted for commercial and scientific purposes. The garden ant case highlights how wildlife traffickers are diversifying beyond high-profile animals like elephants and rhinos to include insects and other small creatures, which often escape the attention of law enforcement.
The case is reminiscent of a similar incident in 2023, where three individuals were charged with attempting to smuggle safari ants worth approximately KSh300,000 to France. In that case, the accused—two women and a man—were found in possession of a live species known as messer cephalotes, commonly referred to as safari ants. They were intercepted at JKIA between June 2 and 19, 2023, after mis-declaring the shipment as handcrafted plastics and wooden jewelry.
One of the accused in that earlier case also faced an additional charge under the East Africa Community Customs Management Act of 2004 for concealing prohibited goods. Authorities said that the items were intentionally misdeclared to bypass customs regulations, highlighting the lengths to which traffickers are willing to go to smuggle such species out of the country.
The trio denied all charges in court and were subsequently released on cash bail ranging between KSh50,000 and KSh100,000, pending further hearings. These cases illustrate an increasing awareness and enforcement effort around the trafficking of even the smallest and seemingly insignificant wildlife species.
Kenyan authorities have reiterated their commitment to upholding the law and protecting the country’s biodiversity. The Kenya Wildlife Service has stated that it remains vigilant and will continue to monitor for the illegal trade of wildlife in all its forms. By cracking down on these emerging trends, officials hope to deter future attempts and send a clear message that wildlife crime, regardless of scale, will be met with serious consequences.
As the case proceeds, it is expected to shed more light on the emerging trade routes and motivations behind the trafficking of ants and similar species. With the suspects now before the court, the outcome could set an important precedent in how Kenya deals with such unique wildlife crimes moving forward.
