00:00four suspects including three foreign nationals pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking highly
00:07sought-after ants out of kenya the men two belgians a vietnamese and a kenyan were
00:14arraigned in court tuesday they were arrested at the international airport in nairobi for
00:20the illegal possession and trafficking of live queen ants to sell as exotic pets they'll be
00:25sentenced on april 23rd kenya's wildlife agency described the case as a landmark trial
00:32the agency said it highlighted the growing threat of biopiracy of native species
00:38authorities say the insects were meticulously concealed in specially modified test tubes
00:44and syringes packed with cotton wool allowing them to survive for up to two months
00:49a single insect can fetch up to 200 dollars on the black market the giant african harvester ants
00:57are native to kenya tanzania and ethiopia in kenya the ants are protected under international
01:04biodiversity treaties and their capture and trade are strictly regulated
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