Vietnamese Police Bust Cat Meat Ring, Arrest 12
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City dismantled a network accused of stealing and selling approximately 2,700 cats for meat.
Police in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City have arrested 12 men suspected of operating a citywide ring that stole and resold about 2,700 cats for meat, according to Vietnamese state media.
Authorities identified 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh as the alleged leader of the network. He and the 11 other individuals are currently under investigation for theft.
Investigators stated that Binh procured stolen cats, housed them at a facility in the northern part of the city, and subsequently sold them for meat. The operation reportedly involved suppliers who recruited others to steal cats using motorcycles in residential areas between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., with each person trapping between four and 10 cats per night.
The practice of consuming cat meat, while not widespread, is known to occur in parts of Asia, including Vietnam. Traditionally, cat meat has been more commonly consumed in northern Vietnam, particularly among older generations. However, this practice has seen a decline with increasing pet ownership and urbanization, as younger Vietnamese increasingly view cats and dogs as companion animals.
Recent efforts have aimed to curb the trade, with over 250,000 people signing a petition in 2024 calling for an end to Vietnam’s dog and cat meat trade. In 2021, the city of Hoi An also pledged to cease the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat.
Police raided the network on July 8, discovering approximately 50 cats and numerous traps. The suspects informed investigators that they had stolen and sold about 2,700 cats, though authorities have not specified the duration of the operation.
Following the raid, police returned 13 of the confiscated cats to their owners. A local nonprofit animal rights group has taken responsibility for the care of the remaining cats while authorities work to identify their rightful owners.
Under Vietnamese law, dogs and cats are recognized as private property, and their theft is considered a criminal offense. Prosecution typically applies when the value of the stolen property exceeds two million Vietnamese dong (approximately $77).
In a separate incident in June, police reported rescuing over 400 cats, reuniting at least 40 with their owners. That raid also uncovered dozens of dead cats packed in ice.