Vietnam police arrest 12 over theft of 2,700 cats for slaughter

Police in Vietnam have arrested 12 people accused of stealing 2,700 cats and selling them for slaughter in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Public Security said this week.



The suspects, aged between 16 and 39, were arrested on suspicion of stealing the cats with the intention of selling them for food.



The men were found with cat traps, cages and fur-removal equipment, according to a ministry statement



Police rescued dozens of cats during the raid



Cat meat dishes are still served in some parts of Vietnam, particularly in rural areas, where they are sometimes marketed as "mini tiger" and believed by some consumers to have medicinal properties



The arrests followed complaints from residents about the nighttime disappearance of their pet cats, the statement said.



Authorities identified Luu Thanh Binh, 39, as the alleged ringleader and distributor. Investigators said he also bought live cats and resold them to customers seeking cat meat