Vietnam Police Dismantle Cat-Stealing Ring Accused of Taking 2,700 Pets

Vietnamese authorities have apprehended 12 men suspected of orchestrating a network that stole approximately 2,700 cats from residential areas for slaughter and consumption, according to police and state media reports released Monday.

The suspects, who operated primarily between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., traveled in small groups on motorbikes through neighborhoods in Ho Chi Minh City to target pets. Investigators confiscated equipment including fur removal machines, cat traps, and weighing scales during the probe.

While the consumption of dog and cat meat remains legal in Vietnam, vendors are legally required to possess certificates verifying the origin of the animals. Media reports indicate that stolen cats can fetch at least 70,000 dong ($2.70) per kilogram at local restaurants.

In a statement, police confirmed the group admitted to the thefts and trafficking. Criminal proceedings commenced on Sunday, though the specific date of detention was not disclosed. Authorities estimate each team was responsible for stealing between four and 10 cats per night.

The operation was initially uncovered in July, when law enforcement seized 50 live cats along with 55 traps and processing equipment. This arrest follows similar crackdowns earlier in the year; in June, police rescued more than 400 cats from a separate ring, reuniting at least 40 with their owners while animal welfare groups reported that several animals died due to harsh transport conditions.

Phuong Tham, country director for Humane World for Animals Viet Nam, described the scale of the seizures as overwhelming. “The sad truth about this trade is that thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat across the country,” Tham said, noting that the majority of victims end up in slaughterhouses or restaurants.