Kenyan Court Cracks Down on Ant Trafficking: A New Era in Biopiracy

A Kenyan court has fined four men for attempting to traffic giant African harvester queen ants, highlighting a shift in biopiracy tactics. The lucrative ant trade threatens the ecosystem as queen ants are essential for colony reproduction. This case underscores the global demand and potential organized crime links in wildlife trade.

A Kenyan court has imposed fines on four individuals, each facing a $7,700 penalty, for their role in attempting to traffic thousands of giant African harvester queen ants. The case marks a reported shift in biopiracy, moving from traditional trophies like elephant ivory to lesser-known species, according to experts.

Magistrate Njeri Thuku stated that these ants could yield up to 800,000 euros on the international market. The traffickers pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay the fines or face a year in jail. This highlights the growing illegal trade in queen ants, which are crucial to Kenya's wildlife ecosystem.

Authorities allege the trafficking involved wider networks, with one defendant, Duh Heng Nguyen from Vietnam, operating like a 'mule' in a sophisticated smuggling operation. The Kenya Wildlife Service emphasizes the species' ecological importance and reaffirms their stance against biodiversity exploitation.

(With inputs from agencies.)