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Cat-stealing ring accused of taking 2,700 pets from homes to be slaughtered for food in Vietnam
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- Vietnamese police have arrested 12 men accused of stealing nearly 2,700 cats in Ho Chi Minh City for slaughter and sale as food, with items like fur removal machines and cat traps confiscated during the investigation.
- The suspects operated in small groups, targeting residential neighborhoods between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., stealing between four and 10 cats per night.
- Consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, but vendors must have certificates proving the origin of the animals; stolen cats reportedly sell for around 70,000 dong ($2.70) per kilogram.
- This arrest follows previous police actions earlier in the year, including the rescue of over 400 cats linked to cat meat crime rings, some of which suffered or died due to poor conditions.
- Criminal proceedings against the 12 men began on Sunday, though the exact date of their detention remains unclear.
