2,700 CATS STOLEN FOR MEAT TRADE, 12 SUSPECTS DETAINED

HANOI, OCTOBER 5 /SRNA/ - Police in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City said they had detained 12 people suspected of stealing and later reselling around 2,700 cats for the meat trade, VNExpress reported.

According to the news portal, the 12 suspects admitted during questioning that they had stolen and sold the animals.

Police said the suspects kept the stolen cats in a warehouse, while authorities have yet to determine how long the criminal group had been operating.

The portal said police seized 50 cats during a raid in one of Ho Chi Minh City's districts, 13 of which were returned to their owners, while the remainder were moved to temporary accommodation.

Under Vietnamese law, dogs and cats are considered private property, meaning their theft can constitute a criminal offense.