Ants have become a new target for smuggling from Africa to Europe.

African harvester ants have become a new smuggled item in Europe.

Thousands of African harvester ant queens are being illegally trafficked from Kenya to Europe, where they can fetch over €200 per individual. This demand is driven by the growing popularity of exotic ants as pets.

Since 2025, Kenya has repeatedly prevented attempts to smuggle these insects hidden in luggage. In one such case, approximately 5,500 queens were seized. Those involved in the smuggling are subject to fines and imprisonment. Researchers note that the exported ants are primarily young queens, which can negatively impact the natural reproductive process and damage savannah ecosystems.

In Europe, ant keeping has become a popular hobby: ants are bred and kept in terrariums at home. However, their trade is largely unregulated, and their export is prohibited in Kenya.

Ecologists warn that introduced species could establish themselves in Europe and damage infrastructure. There have already been cases of African ants causing power grid and internet outages in Germany and neighboring countries.

Experts are calling for stricter controls on the trade of these insects to minimize the risks to nature and the economy.