Cats trafficked over Mekong river
2013

Thai Police Caught Cat Meat Trafficking Gang

10:30 a.m. today (July 11) 2013
After reported information from WDT of multiple cats being smuggled over the Mekong river, preparing to send and sell the live cats to Vietnam for meat!
Police Region 4 together with Ban Phaeng Police Station Intercepted a truck carrying 90 cats,
 Forces have been deployed to arrest an international cat trafficking ring. Police Col. Sakchai Sadmaroeng said Thursday his men stopped a pickup truck at a checkpoint on Thursday and found six plastic cages full of 90 living cats [15+ cats per crate] in northeastern Nakhon Phanom province.
The driver was arrested and faces charges including animal cruelty and illegal transportation of animals. It's the first time that we have found to have cat meat trade in Thailand.Make a pitiful cry They were very crowded together without water or food!
The accused, Mr. Sodsai Amphawa, 26 years old, a resident of Lampai , Buriram Province, was driving a pickup truck on Ban Kham Charoen Road, Nakhon Phanom Province
The Thai driver told police he received 2,000 baht ($63) to drive the cats to the bank of the Mekhong River, near the Thai-Laotian border.
Court officials will compare serious charges to dog trafficking, namely:
1. Failure to vaccinate according to the period specified in the ministerial regulations.
2. There is no vaccination mark or certificate.
3. No license to move animals No animal trading license
However, all cats will be sent to the Nakhon Phanom Animal Quarantine Station, for further health care and rehabilitation.

BANGKOK NEWS (AP) - Thai police say they have rescued about 90 famished cats that they believed had been headed to Vietnam.
They declined to say what fate they had rescued the felines from, but cats are considered a delicacy in their intended destination.
Cat meat is offered in many restaurants in Vietnam. Dogs also have been smuggled there from Thailand for their meat.