Vietnamese Police Arrest 12 in Cat Theft Ring for Meat

Police in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City have arrested 12 men suspected of operating a ring that stole and resold about 2,700 cats for meat, according to Vietnamese state media.

Authorities identified Luu Thanh Binh, 39, as the alleged leader of the network. Binh and the 11 others are under investigation for theft. Investigators stated that Binh acquired stolen cats, housed them at a facility in the city’s northern area, and then resold them for meat. He reportedly worked with suppliers who recruited individuals to steal cats from residential neighborhoods between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., capturing four to 10 cats nightly.

Police raided the operation on July 8, discovering approximately 50 cats and numerous traps. The suspects indicated to investigators that they had stolen and sold around 2,700 cats, although the reports did not specify how long the ring had been active.

Authorities returned 13 of the confiscated cats to their owners. A nonprofit animal rights group is currently caring for the remaining cats while efforts are underway to identify their owners. In a separate incident in June, police rescued over 400 cats, with at least 40 reunited with owners. Dozens of deceased cats were found packed in ice during that raid.

Under Vietnamese law, dogs and cats are considered private property, and their theft is prosecuted as a property crime, particularly if the value of the stolen property exceeds 2 million dong (approximately $77).

The consumption of dog and cat meat is a practice found in various parts of Asia, though it is not widespread. In Vietnam, cat meat has traditionally been more commonly consumed in the northern regions, often by older generations. However, the practice has seen a decline with increasing pet ownership and urbanization, as younger Vietnamese populations increasingly view dogs and cats as companion animals. In 2024, a petition signed by over 250,000 individuals called for an end to Vietnam’s dog and cat meat trade. Additionally, the city of Hoi An pledged in 2021 to cease the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat.

Some individuals hold the belief that consuming cat meat brings good luck, though there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.