Vietnam Cat Meat Crime Ring Busted in Major Operation

In a significant law enforcement operation, police in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, seized over 400 cats in a crackdown on a cat meat crime ring. This operation was highlighted by animal welfare organizations and local media.

During the multi-day effort, more than 40 of the rescued cats were reunited with their owners. However, several dozen of the animals did not survive, due to the severe conditions they were held in. This operation underscores the extensive scale of Vietnam’s cat meat industry, according to Karanvir Kukreja. Kukreja leads a campaign against dog and cat meat consumption for the Humane World for Animals, an international nonprofit organization.

An investigation prompted by a recent series of pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City led authorities to the cat meat trade network, resulting in the arrest of nine people.

Officers found 45 cages containing about 400 live cats, and four ice-filled foam containers with around 80 deceased cats. An additional 21 live cats were recovered at another site, as detailed by The Ho Chi Minh City Criminal Police Division.

Local outlets have labeled this as one of the most significant cat welfare cases in Vietnam, with over 500 cats seized altogether. The suspects reportedly confessed to capturing and collecting cats over the last three years across South Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City and the cities of Tay Ninh and An Giang.

Phuong Pham, the country director of the Humane World for Animals in Vietnam, noted the grim reality of the trade. Thousands of cats face theft, trafficking, and slaughter for meat each month nationwide. She expressed relief that these particular animals were saved. Some rescued cats were pregnant, and kittens were subsequently born while under police care.

Chris Gindelhumer from Vietnam Cat Welfare, who is aiding the rescued cats, shared the emotional toll of the situation. Many Vietnamese families have been seeking their missing pets, a situation he described as both moving and heartbreaking.

Veterinarians and volunteers are providing continuous care for the recovered cats. Although cat and dog meat consumption is legal in Vietnam, sellers need permits verifying the animals’ origins. Some cities, like Hoi An, are collaborating with global welfare groups to end dog and cat meat consumption.

Following South Korea’s 2024 prohibition of dog meat, Vietnamese authorities announced plans to amend legal frameworks to protect pets and their owners. An Pham, a graduate student and cat enthusiast from Ho Chi Minh City, remarked that this event has raised awareness about the cat meat trade and inspired change.