Twelve men have been arrested in Vietnam, suspected of stealing nearly 2,700 cats for the purpose of selling them as meat, according to reports from police and state media.
In Vietnam, the consumption of dog and cat meat is legal; however, vendors are required to obtain certificates verifying the animals’ origins, as reported by Agerpres.
The arrested individuals admitted to stealing and trafficking approximately 2,700 cats of various breeds, as stated in a police announcement.
The group operated during the night, typically between 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM, using motorcycles to navigate residential neighborhoods in search of cats to steal, according to state media.
Authorities confiscated butchering equipment, cat traps, and scales in Ho Chi Minh City.
This network had previously been targeted in July, during which police seized 50 live cats, along with 55 traps, two scales, and two butchering devices.
Earlier this year, 18 individuals were arrested in Ho Chi Minh City for involvement in two separate networks engaged in cat theft.
According to media reports, the stolen cats are sold to restaurants for at least 70,000 dong (approximately €2.4) per kilogram.
Illustrative image of a cat and dog near a cooking fire in a village in Sa Pa valley, Vietnam. PHOTO: © Serban Enache | Dreamstime.com
