Foreigners in Trafficking Case Involving Queen Ants Worth Ksh1.2 Million Jailed

Four individuals, including three foreign nationals, have been sentenced for illegally dealing in queen ants, valued at Ksh1.2 million.

In a statement on Wednesday, May 7, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen, and Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a were each fined Ksh1 million or sentenced to one year in prison in default. 

The sentence was handed down by Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Njeri Thuku at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts.

"Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen, and Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a were each fined Ksh1 million or, in default, sentenced to one year in prison for dealing in listed wildlife species in contravention of Section 95(c) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, Laws of Kenya," the statement read.

According to the ODPP, the magistrate also ordered the repatriation of the three foreign nationals following either the payment of the fine or completion of their prison sentences.

"In delivering the sentence today, Senior Principal Magistrate, Hon. Njeri Thuku of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts sentenced the four accordingly and ordered the repatriation of Lornoy, Seppe, and Duh through the Immigration Department back to their countries of origin upon payment of the fine or completion of the prison term," the statement added.

In court, the prosecution relied on expert evidence, including a report from the National Museums of Kenya which stressed the crucial role ants play in the ecosystem.

According to the report, large-scale harvesting of queen ants could trigger local extinctions, destabilize fragile ecosystems and limit plant nutrient cycles.

"As part of its submissions, the prosecution tabled a report from the National Museums of Kenya authored by a leading entomologist. The report underscored the critical ecological importance of ants, highlighting their roles in pest control, seed dispersal, soil aeration, and nutrient recycling.

"The expert warned that large-scale harvesting of queen ants could trigger local extinctions, destabilize fragile ecosystems, limit plant nutrient cycles, and promote the spread of invasive species," the statement concluded.

On Monday, April 14, the four individuals pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession and trade in wildlife species.

The two Belgians were arrested on April 5, 2025, in Naivasha with live queen ants stored in 2,244 tubes. 

On the other hand, the Vietnamese national, and his Kenyan accomplice, were caught with an additional 400 live queen ants valued at Ksh200,000.