KENYAN ANT SMUGGLERS ARRESTED
KENYAN ANT SMUGGLERS ARRESTED: Four smugglers caught trying to transport thousands of live ants out of Kenya for sale on exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia will be sentenced for trafficking wildlife in a case being hailed as a milestone by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
A court document seen by Reuters stated that the authorities had intercepted about 5 000 queens packed in 2 244 containers, with a street value of about 1 million Kenyan shillings (US$7 800).
The KWS said authorities had intercepted live queen ants 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 said in a statement, describing this as "premeditated and well-executed".
Two Belgians, one Vietnamese and one Kenyan pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of illegal possession and trafficking of live wildlife and appeared again on Tuesday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Court.
PHOTOS: REUTERS
A court document seen by Reuters stated that the authorities had intercepted about 5 000 queens packed in 2 244 containers, with a street value of about 1 million Kenyan shillings (US$7 800).
The KWS said authorities had intercepted live queen ants 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 said in a statement, describing this as "premeditated and well-executed".
Two Belgians, one Vietnamese and one Kenyan pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of illegal possession and trafficking of live wildlife and appeared again on Tuesday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Court.
PHOTOS: REUTERS
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