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12 arrested in Vietnam for snatching cats off streets at night for meat
AL.com • • world
Key Points:
- Twelve men were arrested in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for allegedly running a ring that stole and resold around 2,700 cats for meat.
- The network was led by 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh, who bought stolen cats, stored them in a northern city facility, and resold them.
- The group operated by recruiting suppliers to capture cats from residential neighborhoods late at night, trapping four to ten cats per night.
- Cat meat consumption is more common in northern Vietnam, especially among older generations, though eating cat and dog meat is not widespread in the country.
- Police returned some confiscated cats to their owners, while others were cared for by an animal rights group; theft of pets is criminalized under Vietnamese law if the value exceeds $77.
