Vietnamese police have arrested 12 men accused of operating a massive cat-stealing ring that allegedly took nearly 2,700 pets from residential neighborhoods during nighttime raids. The stolen animals were reportedly destined to be slaughtered and sold for food, according to police and state media statements released on Monday. During investigations in Ho Chi Minh City, authorities confiscated various items from the suspects, including cat traps, measuring scales, and fur removal machines. While the consumption of dog and cat meat remains legal in Vietnam and is openly advertised by numerous restaurants, vendors must legally acquire certificates proving the origin of the animals. Local media reports indicate that stolen cats can fetch at least 70,000 dong, or about $2.70, per kilogram at restaurants. The 12 suspects face allegations of property theft. Police stated that the men admitted to stealing and trafficking approximately 2,700 cats of various types. Although criminal proceedings officially began on Sunday, the exact date of the initial detentions remains unclear. According to the state-owned Tuoi Tre newspaper, the suspects operated primarily between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. They split into small groups and traveled by motorbike through residential areas to target wandering pets, with each team estimated to steal between four and 10 cats nightly. Authorities first uncovered the network in July, seizing 50 live cats alongside 55 traps, two scales, and two fur removal machines. This bust follows previous law enforcement actions in Ho Chi Minh City, where police arrested 18 individuals earlier this year across two separate cat-theft rings. In June, a major operation rescued more than 400 cats from a cat meat crime ring. While at least 40 of those rescued animals were successfully reunited with their owners, animal welfare groups reported that several others perished due to harsh conditions. Phuong Tham, the country director for Humane World for Animals Viet Nam, addressed the grim reality of the industry in a previous statement, noting that thousands of cats are stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered for meat every month across the nation, with most ending up at slaughterhouses and restaurants.
Source: cbsnews.com
