Ants of the species Messor Cephalotes Photo: MediaDrumimages / Adam Ferry / Media Road World / Profimedia
Four smugglers caught while trying to transport thousands of living ants from Kenya to sell them on the exotic animal market in Europe and Asia are to be convicted of wild species trafficking, Agerpres quoted on Tuesday.
The Kenyan Service for Wild Fauna (KWS) has announced that the authorities have intercepted ants, including the highly sought after species Messor Cephalotes, also known as the huge African tanger, hidden in modified tubes and syringes.
According to the investigation, the tubes had been designed so that the ants would withstand up to two months and not be detected at the airport, KWS said in a statement, describing the operation as “premeditated and well executed.” While for some these insects they are a pest, fans are enjoying growing on ants, transparent containers in which they can see how to build complex colonies.
According to a judicial document consulted by Reuters, the authorities intercepted about 5,000 queens packaged in 2,244 containers, with a market value of approximately 1 million Kenyni shillings ($ 7,800).
Two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan pleaded guilty on Monday to the charges of illegal detention and trafficking in live wild animals and comprised again at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Court. “We did not come here to violate a law. We did it accidentally and stupid,” said David Lornoy, one of the Belgian smugglers, asking the court to prove a leniency.
The court postponed the trial of the case on April 23, when it will take into account the KWS reports, the Kenya National Museums and the probation officer. The smugglers are under arrest.
A source close to trade with ants, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the suppliers need a license from KWS and a sanitary certificate to export specimens from the Messor Cephalotes species. The source said that the specimens in this species, originally from Kenya, are highly sought after and difficult to obtain.
Kws said this case is an important step in the fight against crimes on wildlife.
