Two Belgian teenagers found with 5,000 ants in Kenya given $7,700 fine or 1-year prison sentence

A special case of wildlife smuggling concerns a court in Kenya: the defendants did not aim for ivory or rhinos, but wanted to make 5000 ants out of the country. In Europe the animals would have been worth a fortune.

‘Ant Gang’ smugglers sentenced in Kenya wildlife trafficking case

Two Belgian teens caught with 5,000 rare ants in Kenya were sentenced to 12 months in prison or a fine of $7,700.

'Ant gang' sentenced for smuggling thousands of live insects in Kenya

Authorities said the ants were destined for European and Asian markets in an emerging trend of trafficking lesser-known wildlife species "where colonies of rare and ecologically unique species can command prices of up to €1,200 each".

Kenyan court convicts four ant traffickers, fines each $7,700

A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four men $7,700 (R140,826) each for attempting to traffic thousands of ants out of the country, in a case that wildlife experts say signals a shift in biopiracy from iconic animals like elephants to lesser-known species.

Kenya sentences four men for trying to smuggle ants out of the country

Authorities said the giant insects were destined for collectors in Europe and Asia in an emerging trend of trafficking lesser-known wildlife species.

Kenyan court fines four, including Belgian teens, for trying to smuggle protected ants

NAIROBI: A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four people, including two Belgian teenagers, more than US$7,000 for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd