Vietnamese police have broken up a criminal network accused of stealing cats across the south of the country for three years, rescuing more than 400 live animals that were destined for slaughter and sale as meat. Nine suspects were detained following raids last week on sites in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city and commercial hub. Officers recovered more than 400 live cats alongside around 80 dead animals preserved on ice, with a further 21 cats seized from a separate facility. Authorities described the group as "specialising in stealing and collecting cats."

Police launched the operation after investigating a surge in pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City, tracking down the network on 11 June. The suspects reportedly admitted to trapping and collecting cats across southern Vietnam over the past three years, transporting them to holding facilities before selling them on to traders every two to three days. Although the consumption of cat and dog meat is legal in Vietnam, traders are required to hold certificates proving the animals' legal origin — and it remains unclear whether the ring possessed any such documentation.

International animal welfare organisation Humane World for Animals confirmed that around 40 of the recovered cats had been reunited with their owners, praising police for "decisive action that has saved the lives of so many animals." However, the toll of the ordeal has been significant: around 100 of those rescued have since died. The organisation said it was supplying food and arranging fans to prevent the remaining animals — still held at a police station as evidence during the ongoing prosecution — from overheating in custody.

The case throws a spotlight on a widespread and largely hidden trade. Humane World for Animals estimates that approximately five million dogs and one million cats are captured, stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered for meat in Vietnam each year. Pets are frequently stolen from homes, with animals lured using poisoned bait, tasers, iron pincers, or spring-loaded snares. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and urged residents who believe their pets were stolen to come forward to help identify the recovered animals.

While Vietnam's dog and cat meat trade remains more prevalent than in many other Asian countries, there are signs of shifting attitudes. A 2023 survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals found growing public opposition to the trade, particularly among younger people and pet owners, with majorities backing outright bans on both practices.