# Vietnam Police Rescue More Than 400 Stolen Cats Bound for the Meat Trade

*VIETNAM · JUN 16 2026*

> In June 2026, Vietnamese police dismantled an alleged cat-theft ring in southern Vietnam, recovering more than 400 live cats and around 80 dead animals preserved on ice during raids in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City; nine people were arrested and welfare groups said more than 40 stolen cats were later reunited with owners.

Authorities in southern Vietnam dismantled an alleged cat-theft ring in June 2026, recovering more than 400 live cats and dozens preserved on ice. Nine people were arrested after raids in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City.

## What are the key takeaways from this briefing?
- Police recovered more than 400 live cats and around 80 dead cats on ice during raids linked to an alleged theft-and-collection ring operating across southern Vietnam.
- Nine people were arrested; investigators said the group had trapped and collected cats over roughly three years before selling them to traders every two to three days.
- Humane World for Animals said more than 40 stolen cats were reunited with owners, though some animals later died from the ordeal.
- Dog and cat meat consumption remains legal in Vietnam, but vendors require permits showing animal origin — stolen pets enter the trade illegally.
- Welfare groups estimate around one million cats and five million dogs are caught, stolen, trafficked or slaughtered for meat in Vietnam each year.

Southern Vietnamese authorities dismantled an alleged cat-theft ring in June 2026, recovering **more than 400 live cats** destined for slaughter alongside dozens of dead animals preserved on ice, according to police reports and animal welfare groups.

         Rescued cats held in stacked cages following raids in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Pham / Humane World for Animals Viet Nam.

## What happened in the June 2026 raids?

Police described the operation as targeting a **"criminal group specialising in stealing and collecting cats"**. Officers tracked the network after investigating a spate of pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City, with the breakthrough coming on **11 June 2026**.

Raids across **Tay Ninh Province** and **Ho Chi Minh City** recovered:

- **More than 400 live cats**

- **Around 80 dead cats** preserved on ice

- **21 additional cats** at a separate facility

**Nine people** were arrested. Investigators said suspects admitted trapping and collecting cats across southern Vietnam over roughly **three years**, moving stolen animals to holding sites before selling them to traders in transactions every two to three days.

           Cats recovered at a holding site after the raids. Photo: Humane World for Animals Viet Nam.

           Survivors receiving emergency veterinary care after seizure. Photo: AFP.

## Timeline: how the case unfolded

- **2023–2026:** Investigators allege the group collected stolen cats across southern Vietnam, holding them before sale to meat traders.

- **Early June 2026:** Ho Chi Minh City police investigate a surge in reported pet cat thefts.

- **11 June 2026:** Authorities identify and track the alleged theft ring.

- **Mid-June 2026:** Coordinated raids in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City recover hundreds of cats.

- **16 June 2026:** Humane World for Animals reports 40+ reunions with owners; police urge more pet owners to come forward.

Local authorities took decisive action that saved the lives of so many animals — but a number had later died as a result of their ordeal.

         — Humane World for Animals

## Stolen pets, not anonymous strays

The most important detail for pet owners internationally is how the supply chain works. Demand for cat meat in Vietnam outstrips available strays in many areas, so collectors target **owned cats taken from yards and doorsteps**. The reunion of more than 40 cats with their owners after this raid is direct evidence that pet theft feeds the trade.

Welfare investigators have long documented cats being transported in cramped wire crates without food or water, frequently mixed with dogs of unknown vaccination status — creating severe welfare harm and public-health risk in a country where rabies remains endemic.

What happens after a raid?

Police seizures only save lives if rescued cats have quarantine space, veterinary care and shelter capacity waiting. That is what WARN's cat appeal is being built to fund.

    [Support the cat appeal](/adopt/cat/)

## What happens to rescued cats next?

Even when police succeed, the bottleneck moves to **quarantine, veterinary triage and shelter placement**. Cats held as evidence need daily care. Survivors may require wound treatment, parasite control, vaccination and behaviour support before they can be adopted locally or returned to identified owners.

Humane World for Animals told reporters it was supplying food and other materials for animals still in police custody while the investigation continues. Without funded shelter capacity, welfare groups cannot absorb large seizure numbers — which makes donor support for post-raid care structurally important, not optional.

## The wider cat meat trade in Vietnam

This raid does not exist in isolation. Humane World for Animals estimates that around **one million cats** and **five million dogs** are captured, stolen, trafficked or slaughtered for meat in Vietnam each year. Cats sold for meat are locally known as *tiểu hổ* — "little tiger".

Consumption remains legal, but vendors require permits proving animal origin. Stolen pets bypass that traceability entirely. Campaigners cite growing public opposition — particularly among younger urban residents and pet owners — with survey work commissioned by welfare groups finding majorities backing trade bans.

For background, see WARN's briefing on [Vietnam's cat meat trade](/newsroom/vietnam-cat-meat-trade/) and the [cat meat trade rescue guide](/rescue/cat-meat-trade-vietnam/).

## How WARN fits in

WARN is a global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation. Vietnam is **wider search and educational context** for the dog and cat meat trade on this site — WARN's current in-network focus is Indonesia and Malaysia for partner-led rescue. We report raids like this because accurate, citation-backed news helps donors understand why post-seizure cat rescue capacity matters.

When enforcement succeeds, the limiting factor is often whether local partners have quarantine pens, vaccines and staff to say yes to the next load of survivors. That is what supporter funding is for.

## Sources & further reading

- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20yzm58vk3o) — Hundreds of cats stolen for food in Vietnam rescued by police (16 Jun 2026)

- [WARN briefing](/newsroom/vietnam-cat-meat-trade/) — Vietnam's cat meat trade: scale, stolen pets and public health

## What do people ask about this briefing?
### How many cats were rescued in the Vietnam police raid?
Reporting from welfare groups and police accounts cites more than 400 live cats recovered, around 80 dead cats preserved on ice, and a further 21 cats seized at a separate facility during raids in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City in June 2026.

### Were the rescued cats stolen pets?
Investigators described a criminal group specialising in stealing and collecting cats across southern Vietnam. Humane World for Animals said more than 40 of the recovered cats were reunited with owners, indicating many were stolen pets rather than strays.

### Is cat meat legal in Vietnam?
Consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, but vendors require permits that show where animals came from. Cats stolen from homes and sold without traceability enter the trade illegally.

### What happens to cats after a meat-trade police rescue?
Survivors need quarantine, rabies risk assessment, wound treatment, vaccination and shelter space. Without post-seizure capacity, even successful raids can overwhelm local teams — which is why rescue funding for veterinary care and shelter placement matters.

### How can I help cats rescued from the meat trade?
UK and international supporters can fund partner-led quarantine, veterinary care and shelter capacity through WARN's cat appeal and dog-and-cat-meat trade programmes. Symbolic cat adoption from £5/month directs support to community cat welfare and anti-cruelty work.

## Which sources does this briefing use?
- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20yzm58vk3o)

Human-readable page: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/vietnam-police-rescue-400-stolen-cats/