In a bizarre international wildlife trafficking case, two Belgian teens were arrested for attempting to smuggle ants out of Kenya — and officials say it was more than just a science experiment gone wrong.
According to The Associated Press, the suspects, identified as Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were caught on April 5 at a guest house in Nakuru County. Inside, authorities found over 5,000 ants neatly packed into 2,244 test tubes, stuffed with cotton to keep the insects alive for months. During their court appearance in Nairobi, the teens claimed they were collecting the ants “for fun” and didn’t realize their actions were illegal. But Kenya’s government isn’t buying it — and now they’re facing serious charges.
Teens Caught With Smuggled Ants — Wildlife Authorities Say It Was A Global Trafficking Plot
The Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) issued a strong statement after the arrests, linking the teens — and two other men charged in a separate case — to a broader ant trafficking network. The scheme allegedly involves smuggling East African ants to Asian and European exotic pet markets.
KWS also stated the teens were transporting messor cephalotes, a rare species of large red harvester ants native to East Africa.
“[This] not only undermines Kenya’s sovereign rights over its biodiversity, but also deprives local communities and research institutions of potential ecological and economic benefits.”
In a related case, two other suspects, Dennis Ng’ang’a and Duh Hung Nguyen, were also charged after allegedly trying to smuggle 400 ants. Authorities believe the four suspects may be part of a coordinated effort to illegally export wildlife.
Teens Arrested for Attempting to Smuggle Ants Claim Ignorance — But Wildlife Crimes Carry Real Consequences
While the Belgian teens claim they didn’t know the law, Kenyan officials say ignorance doesn’t excuse illegal wildlife activity. Under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, illegal possession and trafficking of protected species can lead to hefty fines and up to 10 years in prison.
And with the ants transported in thousands of tightly packed test tubes, experts say it’s clear this wasn’t just a school project.
The case has sparked renewed conversations around biopiracy, the unauthorized use and export of genetic material from developing nations by foreigners. As global demand for exotic pets and insects rises, so does the risk of trafficking rare species for profit.
Kenya’s crackdown on ant smuggling comes as officials across Africa strengthen protections for biodiversity and step up enforcement against cross-border wildlife crimes.
