Vietnam dismantles cat theft operation that trafficked 2,700 pets for consumption.

In Vietnam, police recently arrested 12 men accused of stealing nearly 2,700 cats for slaughter during nighttime raids in residential areas. Investigations revealed confiscated equipment like fur removal machines and cat traps. While eating dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, vendors must have proper certification for the animals’ origins. Stolen cats can reportedly be sold in restaurants for about 70,000 dong (S$3.50) per kilogram. The arrests followed a discovery in July of the cat-stealing network, where the suspects allegedly targeted local cats between 11 PM and 4 AM. Earlier in 2026, 18 individuals were similarly arrested for involvement in other cat-stealing activities.