Ant smuggling bust in Kenya involving rare queen ants hidden in test tubes for exotic pet trade.

Four individuals have been apprehended while attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of Kenya for sale on exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia. They are now facing sentencing for wildlife trafficking in what the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has described as a landmark case.

According to the KWS, authorities intercepted live queen ants—among them specimens of the rare Messor Cephalotes species, also known as the Giant African Harvester Ant. The ants were discovered concealed in modified test tubes and syringes.

“Investigations revealed that the test tubes had been designed to sustain the ants for up to two months and evade airport security detection,” the KWS stated in an official release, describing the attempt as “premeditated and well-executed.”

While many may consider ants a minor annoyance, some enthusiasts keep them in formicariums—transparent enclosures where colonies can be observed as they build intricate networks.

A court document reviewed by Reuters revealed that approximately 5,000 queen ants were found packed in 2,244 containers, with an estimated street value of 1 million Kenyan shillings (about $7,800).

The suspects—two Belgian nationals, one Vietnamese, and one Kenyan—pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of illegal possession and trafficking of live wildlife. They appeared in court again on Tuesday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Court.

“We did not come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity we did,” said David Lornoy, one of the Belgian nationals, as he pleaded for leniency before the court.

The court postponed further proceedings until April 23 to review pre-sentencing reports from the KWS, the National Museums of Kenya, and the probation officer. The individuals remain in custody