Vietnam Busts Cat-Stealing Ring Accused of Taking 2,700 Pets for Slaughter
Vietnam Busts Cat-Stealing Ring Accused of Taking 2,700 Pets for Slaughter
Police in Vietnam have arrested 12 men accused of stealing nearly 2,700 cats during night-time raids on residential neighbourhoods in Ho Chi Minh City, taking the pets to be slaughtered for food.
The suspects, who moved in small groups on motorbikes between 11pm and 4am, admitted to stealing and trafficking about 2,700 cats of various types, police said in a statement on Monday. The men were arrested on allegations of property theft, and criminal proceedings began on Sunday, though it was not clear when they were detained.
Inside the cat-stealing ring: traps, scales and fur-removal machines
Investigators confiscated fur-removal machines, cat traps and measuring scales during the operation against the alleged cat-stealing ring in Vietnam’s largest city.
The network was first uncovered in July, when police seized 50 live cats along with 55 traps, two weighing scales and two fur-removal machines. Police estimate that each team stole between four and 10 cats a night, roaming residential streets in the early hours to trap pets.
A legal but regulated trade
Eating dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, where many restaurants openly advertise it, but vendors are required to hold certificates showing the origin of the animals. That requirement is meant to keep stolen pets out of the food chain.
Stolen cats can be sold to restaurants for at least 70,000 dong, about $2.70, per kilogram, according to media reports. Earlier this year, police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested 18 people accused of belonging to two separate cat-stealing rings.
The October arrests follow a string of similar busts. In June, police in Ho Chi Minh City rescued more than 400 cats in a raid on a cat-meat ring, one of the largest such seizures in recent years, and more than 40 of the animals were reunited with their owners, according to animal welfare groups.
Frequently asked questions
How many cats were stolen by the ring?
Police say the 12 arrested men admitted to stealing and trafficking nearly 2,700 cats of various types.
How did the cat-stealing ring operate?
The suspects worked in small groups on motorbikes, roaming residential neighbourhoods between 11pm and 4am to trap pet cats.
Is eating cat meat legal in Vietnam?
Yes, the consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, but vendors must hold certificates proving the origin of the animals.
What did police seize in the raids?
Fur-removal machines, cat traps and weighing scales were among the items confiscated by investigators.
