Smuggling of 5,000 African ants cost two young men the maximum penalty in Kenya
Smuggling 5,000 African ants – in a remarkable development in the field of environmental crime control,
A Kenyan court issued a strict ruling against four accused, including Belgian teenagers,
After being convicted of trying to smuggle more than 5,000 rare African anti -ant Harvest cephalotesIt is considered one of the protected species in Kenya.
Details of the case of smuggling 5,000 African ant
The Belgians Lorenoy David and Cby Ludiix were arrested, the Belgians were arrested,
Both are 19 years old, at a guest house in Nakuro Province on April 5, 2025.
They were found in possession of 5,000 live ants stored in more than 2,200 test tested and injection specifically to ensure that ants remain alive during transportation, indicating the smuggling of the planning court.
In a separate case, the Vietnamese Ngawin Di Hong and the Kenyan Dennis Naganga were arrested in Nairobi with 400 live ants.
The issued rulings
On May 7, 2025, the court ruled that each of the four defendants fined the amount of $ 7,700 or imprisoned for one year, after being convicted of illegally smuggling wildlife.
Environmental and economic dimensions
The Kenyan Wildlife Authority (KWS) indicated that this issue is a shift in the pattern of environmental crimes,
The focus is transmitted from large, known animals to smaller species, but they are of great environmental importance, such as ants
It is considered an ant Harvest cephalotes One of the rare and severe species is in the strange pets in Europe and Asia, where the price of one ant has a US dollar.
The reactions of the defendants with the smuggling of 5,000 African ant
The defendants, especially the Belgians, expressed
About their remorse during the court sessions, stressing that they were not aware of the local laws and that they gathered ants out of the hobby.
However, the court saw that the evidence indicates a clear commercial intention and a court smuggling plan.
Future warnings
The Kenyan authorities have warned that the smuggling of biological species,
Even the small of them, is a threat to biological diversity and the local economy, calling for tightening control and educating the public about the importance of preserving wildlife.
This issue highlights the urgent need to enhance international wildlife smuggling efforts,
Including widely unknown species, to ensure the protection of environmental systems and global biological diversity.
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