Faith Nyasuguta
Police in Somalia have revealed that citizens of the East African nation are steaming ants to be high and get intoxicated.
Some odorous house ants, whose scientific name is said to be tapinoma sessile, are known to contain formic acid.
Appearing before Somali Cable TV station, a police officer
noted that there are accounts of birds appearing “drunk” after consuming large quantities of the ants, adding that humans are deliberately using it to similar effect.
“They cut off the ants’ bottoms, then they put them in the pan with the lid on – after it’s boiled for a while people sit around and hover over it, and they get high,” he says in the clip embedded below..
Once the TV presenter asked “is this real?” He replied, “yes – then they become light-headed”.
He even insinuated that there is now a “shortage” of these ants because people are going out and looking for them.
Doctors have however cautioned that coming into contact with formic acid can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
So, don’t try this one at home.
