On 9/1, the Tay Ninh Provincial Police Criminal Investigation Department announced the dismantling of a professional, large-scale dog theft ring. Nguyen Thanh Xuan, 46, from Vinh Long, is identified as the suspected ringleader. He allegedly rented two houses in Duc Lap commune and Ninh Thanh ward, Tay Ninh province, to acquire stolen dogs.

At each location, Xuan hired guards and lookouts. Once the stolen dogs were acquired, he arranged for them to be slaughtered, packed into insulated containers, and transported by truck for sale.

The group and seized evidence temporarily detained by police. *Photo: Police provided*

At 5 p.m. yesterday, dozens of criminal and mobile police officers unexpectedly raided an unmarked house in Duc Lap commune (formerly Duc Hoa district). They caught Nguyen Minh Trieu, Phan Trung Chanh, and Tran Quoc Khoi, aged 33-48, driving a car with 19 dead dogs, totaling 285 kg, which they were delivering to Doan Thi Luong and Duong Phuong Thien for slaughter. Inside a freezer, police found 10 already slaughtered dogs, weighing over 100 kg.

Seized evidence included a car, four motorbikes, stun guns, pepper spray, and homemade arrows.

Simultaneously, a second task force approached the house in Ninh Thanh ward, discovering Nguyen Minh Man and Pham Van Muoi Hai slaughtering 47 dogs weighing over half a ton. These dogs had been transported by car from Can Tho City by Bui Tam Tien and an unidentified individual for sale.

During the inspection of the house, police seized four cars, multiple freezers, and 133 dogs, with a total weight exceeding 1.6 tons.

The investigating agency is currently consolidating records to prosecute the group for Property Theft and for Consuming Property Obtained Through Criminal Acts.

Nam An - Quoc Thang