More than 400 cats have been rescued by the police in Vietnam after authorities busted a large theft network allegedly operating for three years to supply an illicit meat trade.

The Ho Chi Minh City police have detained nine suspects.

Investigators say the group stole cats from several provinces, kept them in cages, and sold them to people supplying the cat meat trade. Police described the ring as a “criminal group specialising in stealing and collecting cats”.

During raids, authorities found more than 400 live cats and around 80 dead cats stored on ice, with another 21 cats recovered at a separate location. About 40 rescued cats have since been reunited with their owners.

The operation was carried out as part of a 45-day anti-crime campaign launched by Ho Chi Minh City police, authorities said on Thursday.

Animal welfare group Humane World for Animals said some animals later died due to the conditions they endured but praised police for taking action.

Phuong Pham, Humane World for Animals Vietnam country director, said in a statement: “It was quite an overwhelming sight to see so many cats seized from just a single transport in Vietnam’s illicit cat meat trade.”

He added: “Many of the cats looked thin and weak, and it was clear to see they had been through a physical and mental ordeal from which now thankfully they have a chance to recover.”

There were reportedly also several pregnant cats and kittens who had been born overnight in police custody, Mr Pham said.

“The sad truth about this trade is that thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat across the country, and the fate of most is to end up at a slaughterhouse or restaurant to be killed and eaten.”

While the consumption of cat meat remains legal in Vietnam if sellers can prove the animal’s origin, campaigners say pet theft linked to the meat trade remains a major problem.

Police said the detained suspects admitted to stealing and collecting cats across several provinces in southern Vietnam over the past three years. The animals were allegedly kept in cages until enough had been gathered, then sold to buyers for around 70,000 Vietnamese Dong (about $2.60) per kilogram.

Authorities said sales were typically carried out every two to three days.

More than 400 cats were recovered in the operation, making it one of the biggest cat theft cases uncovered in Vietnam in recent years, Vietnam News reported.

“While efforts are continuing to reunite stolen cats with their families, our main concern is for the cats who remain at the police station as evidence during the prosecution. We hope that it will be possible to relocate them soon to a facility set up for their ongoing care,” Karanvir Kukreja, Ending Dog and Cat Meat campaign manager at Humane World for Animals, said in a statement.