Somalia Police have disclosed that citizens of the East African nation are steaming ants to get high (become intoxicated).
Odorous house ants, whose scientific name is tapinoma sessile, are known to contain formic acid.
A police officer who appeared on Somali Cable TV station said there are accounts of birds appearing “drunk” after eating 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 below.
When the presenter asks “is this real?” He replies, “yes – then they become light-headed”.
He even suggests that there is now a “shortage” of these ants because people are going out and looking for them.
Doctors, however, warn that coming into contact with formic acid can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
