Belgian teenagers charged with bid to smuggle 5,000 ants out of Kenya

Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx have been charged with the illegal possession and trafficking of live queen ants to sell as exotic pets. Picture: AP

Two Belgian teenagers have been charged with wildlife piracy after they were found with thousands of ants packed in test tubes in what Kenyan authorities said was part of a trend in trafficking smaller and lesser known species.

Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, two 19-year-olds who were arrested on April 5 with 5,000 ants at a guest house, appeared distraught during their appearance before a magistrate in Nairobi and were comforted in the courtroom by relatives.