In Kenya, four men were convicted for attempting to smuggle live ants, including valuable species like the giant African harvester ant. The suspects, two Belgians, a Vietnamese, and a Kenyan, faced a choice of a hefty fine or imprisonment. The court ruled against them, reflecting Kenya's strict opposition to wildlife trafficking and biopiracy as outlined in the Nagoya Protocol. The prosecution illuminated the illicit trade's potential profitability and underscored its ethical implications, charging to protect genetic resources. The case serves as a significant warning against wildlife crime.
The Belgium suspects revealed their intentions of collecting the ants as a hobby, being part of a Facebook group called 'the Ant Gang', which the judge dismissed.
Valuable species such as giant African harvester ants, valued between $100 and $220 each, were found in large quantities with the alleged smugglers.
The Kenya Wildlife Service emphasized that the ruling against the smugglers highlights Kenya's zero-tolerance towards wildlife trafficking and addresses biopiracy concerns.
The Kenyan court's decision represents not only a legal ruling but also reinforces international protocols like the Nagoya Protocol targeting the misuse of genetic resources.
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