Two Belgian teens, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan, have admitted to smuggling at least 5300 garden ants (siafu) worth Sh 1.2 million.

 Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, alleged to have been in the country as safari rally enthusiasts, pleaded guilty to dealing with wildlife species contrary to wildlife law.

The particulars of the charge were that they were nabbed with at least 5,000 ant queens stashed in 2244 tubes worth Sh 1 million.

The two, in separate answers, said they were guilty.

On the other hand, Duh Hung Nguyen and Dennis Ng’ang’a admitted to smuggling 300 ants in two containers. According to the prosecution, led by Allen Mulama, the ants were worth Sh200,000.

David and Lodewijckx, both nineteen-year-olds, were arrested on April 5 at a guest house in Naivasha, Nakuru County

On the other hand, Nguyen and Ng’ang’a were arrested on the same day in Nairobi CBD and Syokimau.

They were found with 140 syringes containing the ants and 300 ants that had yet to be packed.

“ On the 5th day of April, 2025 between 2300Hrs and 0200Hrs at Nairobi town CBD, Hemak towers, Hemak suites and Syokimau Tofina Muthama apartments within Nairobi and Machakos County with others not before court were found while dealing in live Wildlife species namely; garden ants (messor cephalotes) packaged in 140 syringes and approximately 300 unpackaged garden ants in two containers which have a street value of Ksh 200,000 without a permit,” the charges read in part.

Before the charges were read, the magistrate Njeri Thuku asked the lawyers representing the four whether they knew and had discussed their admission. The lawyers said that the accused persons had and understood the charges pressed against them.

The four will know their fate today when they appear before the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) court. She directed that they spend the night at the JKIA police station cell.