Authorities said the investigation began after a series of pet theft complaints in Ho Chi Minh City, leading officers to track suspected suspects connected to the illegal trade.

Investigation leads to major seizure operation

According to Ho Chi Minh City criminal police and local media reports, officers uncovered multiple storage sites during the operation, including 45 cages containing around 400 live cats and several containers holding approximately 80 dead animals. An additional 21 live cats were recovered at a separate location.

Police said the suspects admitted to trapping and collecting cats across southern Vietnam over the past three years, including in Tay Ninh and An Giang provinces.

The total number of rescued animals exceeded 500, making it one of the largest cat welfare cases reported in Vietnam in recent years, according to local reporting.

Harsh conditions and rising fatalities among rescued animals

Animal welfare groups involved in the response said several dozen of the rescued cats later died due to the conditions in which they were found. Volunteers and veterinarians have been working continuously to treat survivors and stabilize their health.

Chris Gindelhumer of Vietnam Cat Welfare, who is assisting with care efforts, described emotional scenes among responders and families searching for missing pets.

“I saw quite a lot of tears in the last few days,” he said. “It’s really beautiful to see how many Vietnamese families are coming, looking for their cats. But it’s also heartbreaking because many families were looking for their cats and didn’t find them.”

International and animal welfare reaction

Karanvir Kukreja of Humane World for Animals said the operation reflects the scale of the country’s cat meat trade, calling it “a sobering reminder” of its extent in Vietnam. He said millions of animals are affected by theft and illegal slaughter networks operating across the country.

Animal welfare advocates said the case has renewed attention on enforcement gaps and the ongoing illegal trade in companion animals.

Legal context and policy debate

Consumption of dog and cat meat remains legal in Vietnam, although vendors are required to document the origin of animals. Some cities, including Hoi An, have taken steps to discourage the practice in coordination with animal welfare groups.

Vietnamese officials have also indicated plans to review parts of the legal framework to improve protection for pets and strengthen enforcement against theft, following South Korea’s 2024 ban on dog meat.

A local resident, An Pham, a master’s student and cat owner in Ho Chi Minh City, said the case has shifted public awareness.

“This event surprised a lot of people and has raised awareness among many to stop consuming cat meat,” she said.

However, authorities have not publicly confirmed additional details about long-term prosecutions or the broader scope of the network.

Tags: Vietnam, HoChiMinhCity, AnimalWelfare, CatTheft, IllegalWildlifeTrade, LawEnforcement, HumaneWorldForAnimals, VietnamCatWelfare

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Vietnamese authorities have arrested Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, a well-known beauty queen and social media influencer, in connection with a major consumer fraud case involving counterfeit fibre supplements.

Nguyen, who won the Miss Grand International title in 2021 and earned recognition from the Vietnamese government, had heavily promoted a product called Kera Supergreens Gummies across her social media platforms. The gummies were marketed as being rich in fibre—claiming each gummy contained fibre equivalent to a plate of vegetables.

However, the public outcry began after independent lab tests revealed a different story. Instead of the promised 200mg of fibre per gummy, tests showed they contained just 16mg. Further investigations uncovered that the gummies were made with low-quality ingredients, lacked clear fibre content labeling, and contained high levels of sorbitol, a laxative ingredient not properly disclosed on the packaging.

Nguyen was not alone in the promotion. She partnered with fellow influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, who were also involved in the business behind the product. Authorities say the three influencers collaborated in launching the supplement through a joint company venture.

Following the lab findings, all three influencers were initially fined and issued public apologies in March. But the case escalated quickly. In April, Vietnamese officials arrested Pham, Hang Du Muc, company executives, and the gummies’ manufacturer on charges of producing counterfeit goods and defrauding consumers.

On Monday, Nguyen was also taken into custody amid allegations of deceiving customers. It is estimated that over 100,000 boxes of the gummies were sold before the scandal forced a halt to sales.

Nguyen’s rise to fame extended beyond beauty pageants. After her 2021 win in Bangkok, she became a popular figure for brands in Vietnam and appeared on multiple reality TV shows. She even received certificates of merit from the Prime Minister and Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party. Now, her reputation faces serious damage as legal proceedings continue.

Source: BBC – Vietnamese beauty queen arrested for fraud over fibre gummies

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