Government Staffing Cuts Have Fueled an Ant-Smuggling Boom
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Summary
Ant smugglers in the US are taking advantage of government staffing cuts to increase their illegal activities, with one source saying: “The illegal market rapidly has become much more aggressive because of the lack of enforcement.”
Illegally sold invasive species of ants could cause environmental, economic and public health impacts.
Smugglingants. across state lines has reportedly been harder under the current permitting system, but insect trafficking across international borders, such as between the US and Thailand, Vietnam, China and parts of Europe, appears to remain unhindered.
Ant smugglers are exploiting the lack of enforcement to increase competitive behaviour and maximise profits, with some vendors accumulating and selling large volumes of specimens from the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.
The US Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of federal plant pest regulations remains unchanged, according to a spokesperson.
