Police in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested 12 men suspected of operating a network that stole and resold approximately 2,700 cats for meat. Vietnamese state media identified 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh as the alleged leader of the operation, which reportedly targeted residential neighborhoods to trap cats.
The arrests followed a police raid on July 8, during which authorities seized 50 cats, dozens of traps, fur-removal machines, measuring scales, and 6.7 million Vietnamese dong ($257). Investigators stated that the network recruited individuals to ride motorcycles through neighborhoods between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., using fish as bait to capture between four and 10 cats per night. The animals were then kept at a facility in the city's north before being resold.
According to Ho Chi Minh City police, the suspects confessed to the theft and sale of 2,700 cats. While cat meat consumption is legal in Vietnam, vendors must possess permits documenting the origin of the animals. Under national law, dogs and cats are considered private property, and criminal prosecution for theft typically applies when the stolen property's value exceeds 2 million dong ($77). Following the July raid, 13 cats were returned to their owners, while the remainder were placed in the care of an animal welfare organization.
The legal and economic impact centers on the enforcement of property rights and food safety regulations. While cat meat is traditionally consumed in northern Vietnam and by older generations, a 2023 survey by Humane World for Animals indicated that 71% of respondents support a ban on the trade. A 2024 petition to end the practice garnered 250,000 signatures. For small business owners in the restaurant sector, the requirement to prove the origin of meat means that operations relying on stolen animals face criminal prosecution for theft.
The case follows shifting cultural attitudes regarding animal theft rings. Previously, the city of Hoi An pledged in 2021 to end the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat. What happens next involves the formal investigation of Luu Thanh Binh and his 11 associates for theft. The animal rights group HavePaws and other organizations continue to care for the remaining rescued cats while authorities attempt to identify further owners. No specific court dates for the 12 suspects were reported.