In Kenya, four men have been sentenced for trying to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country.

The suspects, two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan,  were arrested last month with live ants suspected to have been destined for European and Asian markets.

They pleaded guilty to the charges, telling the court that they were collecting the highly sought-after ants as a hobby and didn’t think it was illegal.

However the court said the particular species of ants collected was valuable and they had thousands of them — not just a few.

According to Al Jazeera, the species, native to Kenya, sells for over $130 each due to their size, bold colour, and demand in exotic pet colonies