The illegal trade in giant African harvester ants endangers local biodiversity and could spread invasive species in destination countries. Four men were convicted in May for attempting to smuggle 5 440 giant African harvester ants from Kenya to Europe and Asia. The suspects (from Belgium, Vietnam and Kenya) were ordered to pay US$7 700 each or face a year in jail. While their collection of queen ants was valued at KSh1.2 million (US$9 300) locally, each insect was reportedly worth US$233. Once in their destination countries, the haul would fetch US$1 267 520. This is not the first time ant smugglers have been charged in Kenya. In 2023, three Kenyans tried to illegally export harvester ants worth KSh300 000 (US$2 321) to France. Both cases involved Messor cephalotes, a species native to East Africa and sought after in the exotic pet trade for its complex colony-building skills and unique social dynamics.