Vietnamese police rescue over 400 stolen cats bound for meat trade

Vietnamese police have rescued more than 400 stolen cats and arrested nine suspects during a major operation targeting an illegal animal trafficking network in Ho Chi Minh City, 24NewsHD TV reported on Friday.

According to local media reports and animal welfare organizations, authorities launched an investigation after a rise in pet theft cases led them to a suspected network involved in the illegal trade of cat meat.

The operation, carried out over several days, resulted in multiple raids across the city.

During the crackdown, police recovered 45 cages containing more than 400 live cats.

Officers also discovered 80 dead cats inside four ice-filled foam containers.

In a separate raid, authorities rescued an additional 21 live cats.

Animal welfare groups said more than 40 of the rescued cats have already been reunited with their owners.

However, dozens of animals reportedly died after being kept in overcrowded and poor conditions before the operation.

Police said the arrested suspects admitted to capturing and collecting cats from various parts of southern Vietnam over the past three years before selling them into the meat trade.

According to Humane World for Animals Vietnam Director Phuong Pham, thousands of cats are allegedly stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered for meat across the country every month.

He described the rescue as a significant success that saved hundreds of animals from a grim fate.