Twelve men have been arrested in Ho Chi Minh City after allegedly confessing to stealing and selling approximately 2,700 cats, according to police statements. The suspects are accused of targeting residential areas to obtain the animals for slaughter and resale as food.
On 8 July, officers seized 50 cats along with equipment used in the trafficking operation, including 55 cat traps, two fur-removing machines, two weighing scales, 14 bags, 13 mobile phones, seven motorbikes and 6.7 million Vietnamese dong (approximately $257 or £195). Thirteen of the rescued cats have since been returned to their owners, while the remaining animals are being cared for at the animal welfare centre HavePaws.
According to local reporting, the suspects operated primarily between 11pm and 4am across multiple areas including Đông Thạnh and Hóc Môn communes and Tân Thới Hiệp and An Hội Tây wards. Police allege the men roamed through residential neighbourhoods in small groups on motorbikes, using pieces of fish as bait and placing traps outside houses where they knew cats were kept.
Each group allegedly stole between four and ten cats per night, according to a police statement published in Ho Chi Minh City police department's official newspaper. Police identified 39-year-old Lưu Thanh Bình as the alleged main buyer, who reportedly stored live cats at a property in Thới An Ward before reselling them for meat.
What legal action is being taken?
On 5 October 2026, Ho Chi Minh City police formally opened proceedings against the case and executed arrest warrants against the 12 suspects on suspicion of property theft, according to official police statements. The investigation remains ongoing, with no hearing date or court date yet reported.
How widespread is cat theft in Vietnam?
The consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, where many restaurants openly advertise these products on their menus. However, vendors are required to obtain permits demonstrating the origin of the animals. According to the animal protection organisation Humane World for Animals, an estimated five million dogs and one million cats are captured, stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat in Vietnam annually.
This arrest follows a separate operation in June 2026 when police rescued more than 400 live cats and discovered approximately 80 dead cats in Ho Chi Minh City. Nine people were arrested in that case, and the suspects reportedly stated they had been collecting cats across southern Vietnam for three years.
Is public opinion shifting on the trade?
While the consumption of dog and cat meat remains more prevalent in Vietnam than in other Asian countries, animal welfare campaigners report that attitudes are gradually changing. A 2023 survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals revealed growing public opposition, particularly among younger people and pet owners, with 71% supporting a ban on the consumption and trade of cat meat.
Key Facts
- Twelve men arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on suspicion of stealing approximately 2,700 cats for slaughter and resale
- Police seized 50 cats, 55 traps, two fur-removing machines, and other equipment on 8 July; 13 cats have been returned to owners
- Suspects allegedly operated at night across multiple residential areas, using fish bait and traps to steal pets
- An estimated five million dogs and one million cats are trafficked and slaughtered for meat in Vietnam annually
- A 2023 survey found 71% of Vietnamese respondents support banning cat meat consumption and trade
