Police in central Vietnam’s Nghe An Province have arrested eight men for allegedly stealing more than 50 dogs over three months to sell for meat.
The group faces charges of property theft and handling stolen goods.
Tran Van An, 34, led the gang alongside seven other residents from Nghe An Province. All suspects had previous criminal records, including theft and illegal gambling.
Gang Used Electric Stun Guns and Motorcycles in Night Operations
The criminal operation began in May 2025. Gang members rode motorcycles during late night hours or early morning across the province. They carried electric stun batons, knives, sacks, and tape.
Each dog was subdued within 15 to 20 seconds using the electric prods. The gang then handed the animals to a member named Duong, who handled sales to slaughterhouses.
Investigators tracked the group starting at the end of July 2025. The province’s criminal investigation department deployed multiple task forces to arrest An, Duong, and six other gang members.
Police Confiscate Equipment and Recover Two Tonnes of Stolen Dogs
During the arrests, officers seized electric stun guns, knives, and other tools used in the thefts. The investigation revealed the gang had committed more than 50 thefts over the three-month period.
The total weight of stolen dogs reached over two tonnes. Some dog owners received their stolen pets back from police during the operation.
Under Vietnamese law, dog theft rarely qualifies as a criminal offence unless the stolen animal is valued at more than VND2 million (~SGD98). This legal threshold means many dog theft cases go unpunished.
Most stolen dogs in Vietnam are sold to slaughterhouses for meat consumption, a practice that continues despite criticism from animal welfare advocates both domestically and internationally.
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