Vietnamese police have arrested 12 men suspected of operating a cat theft network accused of stealing and selling approximately 2,700 cats for meat in Ho Chi Minh City, raising fresh concerns over pet safety and the illegal trafficking of animals.
Authorities identified 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh as the alleged ringleader. Investigators said he bought stolen cats, kept them at a facility in the northern part of the city and resold them to customers seeking cat meat.
The case came to light after residents reported that their pet cats were disappearing, prompting police to investigate a network allegedly operating across residential neighbourhoods.
According to Vietnamese media reports, the suspects admitted to stealing and selling around 2,700 cats. Investigators have not established exactly how long the operation had been running.
How the Suspects Allegedly Stole Cats at Night
Police said the group operated mainly between 11pm and 4am, using motorcycles to move through neighbourhoods while searching for cats.
Binh allegedly supplied traps and worked with accomplices who recruited younger individuals to capture the animals. The groups reportedly used fish as bait and could catch between four and 10 cats per night before handing them over for resale.
The suspects allegedly divided areas among different groups to carry out the thefts, allowing the operation to cover multiple residential communities.
During a raid on July 8, police seized about 50 live cats, 55 traps and other equipment, including weighing scales. Investigators also found equipment used to remove fur from animals.
Some Cats Returned to Their Owners
Of the approximately 50 cats recovered during the raid, police have returned 13 to their owners.
The remaining animals were transferred to HAVEPAWS, an animal welfare organisation providing care while authorities work to identify their owners.
Residents who suspect their cats were stolen have been urged to contact the relevant authorities or the rescue organisation to help establish ownership.
The case has highlighted the distress experienced by pet owners whose animals disappear without explanation, as well as the difficulties authorities face in tracing stolen animals once they enter an organised resale network.
Why Cat Theft Is a Serious Offence
Although cat meat is still consumed in some parts of Vietnam, the practice has declined in certain communities as pet ownership and urbanisation have grown.
Under Vietnamese law, cats and dogs are considered private property, meaning stealing them can constitute theft. Criminal prosecution generally applies when the value of the stolen property exceeds two million Vietnamese dong.
Animal welfare advocates have also called for stronger action against the wider dog and cat meat trade, citing concerns about animal welfare, theft and the conditions in which animals are transported and kept.
The latest arrests follow a separate operation in June, when police in Ho Chi Minh City seized more than 400 cats from an alleged animal trafficking network. Some of those animals were reunited with their owners, while others died after being found in harsh conditions.
Investigation Continues as Authorities Seek More Owners
The 12 suspects remain under investigation over the alleged theft network. Police have not disclosed the full period during which the group operated.
For affected families, the investigation offers a chance to find missing pets and understand what happened to them. For animal welfare groups, the case has renewed calls for greater protection of companion animals and stronger enforcement against organised theft.
Authorities continue to seek information that could help identify the remaining rescued cats and reunite them with their owners.
