In a significant victory against bio-piracy, Kenya has convicted four individuals for attempting to smuggle thousands of live garden ants out of the country, violating wildlife protection laws.
Two Belgian nationals, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, Vietnamese citizen Duh Hung, and Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a were sentenced at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts after pleading guilty to illegal possession and trade of live wildlife trophies.
Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku fined each offender KSh 1 million or a 12-month prison term in default. The ruling, delivered on Monday, followed their arrest on 23 April for attempting to traffic approximately 5,000 live Messor cephalotes (garden ants), valued at KSh 1.2 million.
Authorities intercepted the ants, vital for soil health and ecological balance, at JKIA before they could be illegally exported.
In her judgment, Magistrate Thuku underscored the gravity of wildlife crimes, invoking Kenya’s national anthem to highlight the duty to protect the nation’s biodiversity. “No species is too small to protect,” she stated. “Our wildlife, from ants to elephants, sustains our ecosystems and national heritage.”
The Belgian suspects were detained at the Anti-Terror Police Unit facility, while the Vietnamese and Kenyan accomplices were held at Lang’ata Prison pending trial.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) hailed the conviction as a powerful affirmation of Kenya’s zero-tolerance policy on wildlife trafficking. “This case sends a clear message: Kenya will relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone involved in illegal wildlife trade, regardless of the species,” said Paul Udoto, KWS Head of Corporate Communications.
Udoto emphasised that traffickers often undervalue smaller species, despite their critical role in ecosystems. “This sentencing reflects Kenya’s intensified efforts to combat wildlife trafficking, a crime that threatens biodiversity and fuels transnational organized crime,” he added.
KWS continues to partner with international agencies, leveraging advanced technology to enhance surveillance at entry points and dismantle trafficking networks.
This case highlights Kenya’s growing commitment to safeguarding its biodiversity, protecting not only iconic species but also the often-overlooked organisms essential to ecosystem health.
