NAIROBI, Kenya – In a ruling against wildlife trafficking, four individuals have been convicted and sentenced for attempting to illegally trade in live wildlife species in Kenya.
The four, including Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, Vietnamese national Duh Hung, and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a, were sentenced at the JKIA Law Courts for smuggling approximately 5,000 live Messor cephalotes (Garden Ants), valued at KES 1.2 million, without the necessary permits.
The ants, crucial for soil health and ecosystem stability, were intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on April 23, 2025.
The accused pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful possession and trade of live wildlife.
In a ruling delivered by Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku, each offender was fined KES 1 million or risk serving a 12-month prison sentence in case of default.
𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒
During the verdict, Magistrate Thuku highlighted the significance of wildlife protection, quoting Kenya’s national anthem: “Nchi yetu ya Kenya, tuwe tayari kuilinda” (“Our nation Kenya, let us be steadfast to protect her”).
She emphasized the importance of preserving all species, noting that “no species is too small to protect.”
This case marks a significant step in Kenya’s efforts to combat wildlife trafficking, reinforcing the country’s commitment to disrupting illegal trade networks, regardless of the species involved.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) continues to enhance border surveillance and collaborate with international partners to strengthen efforts against wildlife crimes.
