Two Belgian Teens Face $7,700 Fine or Year in Prison for Trafficking 5,000 Ants in Kenya

Two Belgian teenagers are facing serious charges in Kenya after they were caught with 5,000 ants at a guest house in Nakuru county, a region known for its national parks. The teens, 19-year-olds Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, were arrested on April 5 and charged on April 15 for violating wildlife conservation laws. They now face a tough choice: pay a fine of $7,700 or serve up to 12 months in prison, the maximum penalty for this offense.

The ants, including the distinctive messor cephalotes species, were being trafficked to European and Asian markets—an increasingly common trend in the illegal wildlife trade. These large, red-colored harvester ants, native to East Africa, are in high demand online, where there is a “biting shortage,” according to Magistrate Njeri Thuku.

Despite claiming their actions were naive and motivated by a hobby, the teens’ large collection of ants raised suspicions. The Kenyan authorities argue that the illegal exportation of such species not only violates the country’s sovereignty over its biodiversity but also deprives local communities of vital ecological and economic opportunities.

In a related case, two other men were found with 400 ants and, like the Belgian teens, were fined $7,700 or faced a year in prison. One of the men, Duh Hung Nguyen, a Vietnamese national, explained that he was tasked with picking up the ants and was unaware of their illegal status. His Kenyan accomplice, Dennis Ng’ang’a, claimed he didn’t realize it was an offense, as ants are sold and even eaten locally.

Magistrate Thuku described their actions as part of an “elaborate scheme” to exploit the country’s wildlife.

Experts have raised concerns over the growing trend of trafficking lesser-known species. Entomologist Shadrack Muya, from Jomo Kenyatta University, emphasized that ants play a critical role in ecosystems, from aerating soils to dispersing seeds. Removing ants from their natural habitats can lead to serious ecological consequences, as they often cannot adapt to new environments without proper care.

The case shines a light on the emerging and concerning issue of wildlife trafficking, where even creatures like ants are targeted for profit at the expense of local ecosystems.