Twelve arrested for allegedly running cat trafficking ring in Vietnam
The men are accused of stealing around 2,700 cats in Ho Chi Minh City, allegedly to be slaughtered for food.
Twelve arrested over alleged cat trafficking ring in Vietnam
Twelve men have been detained in Vietnam after allegedly admitting to stealing and selling about 2,700 cats, Ho Chi Minh City police said.
Among the items taken during the investigation were cat traps, fur-removal machines and weighing scales. The men are suspected of taking the animals to be slaughtered for food.
Police say the suspects moved through residential neighbourhoods in small groups on motorbikes at night to steal cats.
State media reported that the men allegedly used pieces of fish as bait, setting traps outside homes where they knew cats were kept. Thirteen of the rescued cats have since been returned to their owners.
Humane World for Animals, an animal protection organisation, says an estimated five million dogs and one million cats are captured, stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat in Vietnam each year.
Dog and cat meat consumption is legal in the country, where many restaurants openly list it on their menus. However, vendors must have permits proving the animals’ origin.
According to a police statement in the Ho Chi Minh City police department’s official newspaper, each group allegedly stole an average of four to 10 cats a night.
On 8 July, police said they seized 50 cats, two weighing scales, 55 cat traps, 14 bags, 13 mobile phones, seven motorbikes, two fur-removing machines and 6.7 million Vietnamese dong ($257; £195).
The 12 suspects were then questioned, and police say they confessed to stealing around 2,700 cats.
Of the 50 cats seized, 13 have been returned to their owners, while the rest are being cared for at the animal welfare centre HavePaws.
Although dog and cat meat consumption is still more common in Vietnam than in other Asian countries, campaigners say attitudes are shifting.
A 2023 survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals found rising public opposition, especially among younger people and pet owners, with 71% supporting a ban on the consumption and trade of cat meat.
In June, more than 400 cats headed for slaughter were rescued after authorities broke up another alleged cat theft ring, the animal welfare group said.