Cat Theft Ring Busted
Vietnamese Police Arrest 12 Men Accused of Stealing Thousands of Cats for Meat Trade
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Police identified 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh as the alleged ringleader. Investigators say he bought stolen live cats, kept them at a facility in Thoi An Ward and resold them for meat; he also bought cats from independent sellers.
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Investigators said the groups divided the city’s outskirts into assigned territories, operating in Dong Thanh and Hoc Mon communes and Tan Thoi Hiep and An Hoi Tay wards. The ring was uncovered in a July 8 raid in Dong Thanh Commune.
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Authorities had not established how long the alleged ring had been operating. Of the 50 cats seized, 13 had been returned to their owners; the rest were being cared for by the HAVEPAWS Social Center while officials tried to identify their owners.
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Police urged people whose cats had recently gone missing to contact Dong Thanh Commune Police or the HAVEPAWS Social Center in Binh Hung Commune to identify and reclaim their pets.
Vietnamese police arrested 12 men accused of stealing about 2,700 cats in Ho Chi Minh City to supply the meat trade, WRAL reported. The suspects allegedly rode motorbikes through residential neighborhoods at night, using traps to snatch cats from homes. A July raid uncovered the network and recovered 50 live cats, traps, scales, and fur-removal equipment.
The alleged ringleader, 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh, bought stolen cats at a facility in Thoi An Ward and resold them for meat, AJC reported. Cat meat is legal in Vietnam, but vendors must document where animals come from. The suspects now face property-theft charges.
Organized Theft Ring Split City Into Territories
The criminal network divided Ho Chi Minh City's outskirts into assigned zones to operate without interference, WTOP reported. Different groups worked in Dong Thanh and Hoc Mon communes and Tan Thoi Hiep and An Hoi Tay wards. Police uncovered the ring during a July 8 raid in Dong Thanh Commune after investigating the missing cats.
Rescued Cats Being Reunited With Owners
Of the 50 cats seized during the raid, 13 have already been returned to their owners, Winnipeg Free Press reported. The remaining cats are being cared for by the HAVEPAWS Social Center while officials work to identify their owners. Police urged people with missing cats to contact Dong Thanh Commune Police or the HAVEPAWS Social Center in Binh Hung Commune.
Police Still Investigating How Long Ring Operated
Authorities have not yet determined when the alleged theft ring began operations, Newsday reported. The investigation revealed that Luu Thanh Binh bought cats from both the stealing groups and independent sellers. Police continue gathering evidence about the network's full scope and timeline.
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