Cat meat trade: 2,700 cats stolen in Vietnam for meat; police bust suspected theft ring
Vietnamese police have arrested 12 individuals involved in a criminal ring that stole approximately 2,700 cats for the meat trade. The operation targeted pets in residential neighborhoods, highlighting ongoing issues regarding animal welfare and property rights in Vietnam.
Why it matters
The case underscores the tension between traditional meat consumption practices and modern pet ownership, as well as the rise of organized pet theft.
Police in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested 12 people accused of running a cat-theft and trafficking operation in which about 2,700 cats were allegedly stolen and sold for meat. The cats were reportedly taken from residential neighbourhoods at night, with some eventually destined for slaughter, CBS News reported.The numbers are startling. But the details of how the alleged network operated make the case even more unsettling for pet owners.According to Vietnamese police, the suspects worked in small groups and travelled through residential areas on motorcycles between about 11pm and 4am. They allegedly used traps to catch cats that were roaming outdoors. Each group was said to capture around four to 10 cats a night before handing them over to a buyer.The operation came to light after police began investigating reports of pets disappearing from neighbourhoods in and around Ho Chi Minh City.
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