Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City arrested 12 individuals accused of running an organized network that systematically stole cats from residential neighborhoods and resold them for meat consumption. Police identified 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh as the operation’s alleged leader. According to investigators, Bihn purchased stolen cats, housed them at a facility in the city’s northern region, and then sold them to buyers. The network operated through a coordinated system where operatives rode motorcycles through residential areas during late evening and early morning hours, typically between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., to locate and capture cats using traps, reportedly netting between four to ten animals each night.
The consumption of dog and cat meat is practiced in various parts of Asia, though it remains uncommon in most areas. In Vietnam specifically, cat meat consumption has historically been more prevalent in northern regions and among older demographics. Some people believe consuming cat meat brings good fortune, though no scientific basis exists for this claim. The practice has experienced a significant decline in recent years due to increasing pet ownership, urbanization, and changing cultural attitudes among younger Vietnamese, who increasingly view dogs and cats as companion animals rather than food sources.
Police conducted a raid on July 8, discovering approximately 50 cats and numerous traps at the operation’s facilities. Based on suspect statements, the network had stolen and sold roughly 2,700 cats, though authorities did not specify how long the operation had been active. Following the raid, police returned 13 confiscated cats to their owners, while an animal rights nonprofit organization assumed care of the remaining animals as authorities worked to locate their owners. Under Vietnamese law, cats and dogs are classified as private property, and theft of such animals constitutes a criminal offense when the stolen property’s value exceeds 2 million dong ($77).
This operation represents part of a broader issue in the country. In a separate enforcement action in June, police conducted another raid and rescued more than 400 cats, reuniting at least 40 with their owners, though dozens of dead cats were discovered packed in ice. Growing opposition to the practice has emerged domestically, evidenced by a petition signed by more than 250,000 people calling for an end to Vietnam’s dog and cat meat trade. Additionally, the city of Hoi An made a commitment to prohibit the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat.
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