Insect Trafficking: A Green Criminological Perspective

Angus Nurse () and Elliot Doornbos ()
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Angus Nurse: School of Economics, Finance and Law, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Elliot Doornbos: School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK

Laws, 2025, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: In May of 2025, four men were sentenced in a Kenyan court for the attempted smuggling of ants. This case underscores a largely overlooked dimension of global wildlife crime: the trafficking of insects. This article aims to discuss the nature of insect trafficking in legal, criminological, and conservation discourses and to argue for its inclusion in broader debates within environmental justice discourse. Exploring legal and policy dimensions of wildlife trafficking through a green criminological lens, this paper underscores the anthropocentric bias in wildlife protection, which marginalises noncharismatic species despite their ecological importance. It concludes that a shift toward ecological and species justice is necessary, advocating for more inclusive legal definitions, improved enforcement mechanisms, and interdisciplinary research. Recognising insects as victims of environmental harm is essential for developing holistic responses to wildlife crime and advancing the goals of green criminology.

Keywords: green criminology; insect trafficking; wildlife trafficking; environmental harm; species justice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D78 E61 E62 F13 F42 F68 K0 K1 K2 K3 K4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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