Two Belgian Teenagers Fined for Attempted Ant Smuggling in Kenya.
May 10, 2025 — Nairobi, Kenya
Two Belgian teenagers have been fined $7,700 each or face a 12-month prison term after being caught attempting to smuggle over 5,000 live ants out of Kenya, in a case that has drawn fresh attention to the growing and often overlooked issue of insect trafficking.
The pair, both aged 17, were intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last week as they prepared to board a flight to Brussels. According to officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the teenagers had concealed dozens of plastic containers filled with various ant species—some believed to be rare and endemic to Kenya’s forests—in their luggage.
Customs officers flagged the bags for inspection after detecting irregularities during routine screening. Upon questioning, the teenagers admitted to collecting the ants during a “biological hobby trip,” claiming they intended to study and breed them at home. However, they failed to produce any permits or authorization from Kenyan authorities.
“This is not a harmless act. It is an illegal extraction of biodiversity and a violation of Kenya’s wildlife conservation laws,” said KWS spokesperson Paul Juma. “Whether it’s a lion or an ant, our laws protect native species from unauthorized removal.”
The Nairobi Magistrates Court handed down the fine on Friday, offering the option of a 12-month jail sentence should the teenagers fail to pay. The court noted the seriousness of the offense despite the age of the offenders and stressed the need to deter similar incidents.
Wildlife trafficking in Kenya is typically associated with iconic animals such as elephants and rhinos, but conservationists say smaller, lesser-known species like insects are increasingly at risk due to growing demand from exotic pet traders, collectors, and hobbyists abroad.
“Insects play a vital role in ecosystems, and their illegal extraction can have cascading effects on biodiversity,” said Dr. Betty Odinga, an entomologist at the National Museums of Kenya. “The global black market for exotic invertebrates is real and growing.”
Kenya has strengthened its legal framework around wildlife protection in recent years, but enforcement remains a challenge, especially when it comes to non-charismatic species like ants, reptiles, and amphibians.
Authorities have launched further investigations to determine whether the teenagers were acting on behalf of a larger trafficking network. Meanwhile, the seized ants are being studied and will be reintroduced to their natural habitats.