Twelve arrested for allegedly running cat trafficking ring in Vietnam
Vietnamese police arrested 12 men for allegedly running a large-scale cat trafficking ring that stole and slaughtered approximately 2,700 cats for meat. Authorities seized various tools used for the operation, and some rescued animals have been returned to their owners.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing animal welfare concerns and the legal complexities surrounding the consumption of pet meat in Vietnam.
Image source, Ho Chi Minh City Police Image caption, Police released photos of the cats that were rescued - 13 have been returned to their owners
Twelve men have been arrested in Vietnam after allegedly confessing to stealing and selling around 2,700 cats, Ho Chi Minh City police have said.
Cat traps, fur removal machines and measuring scales were among the items seized during the investigation. The men are suspected of taking the pets to be slaughtered for food.
Police allege the suspects roamed through residential areas in small groups on motorbikes at night to steal the cats.
The men reportedly used pieces of fish as bait, placing traps outside houses where they knew cats were kept, local media reported. Thirteen of the rescued felines have since been returned to their owners.
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