800 households confess of beating dog thieves to death
Firing four people, dog thief beaten to death
Nghe An: Two dog thieves beaten to death

Dogs seized from three illegal trading hubs. — VNA/VNS Photo Trinh Duy Hung

Since the beginning of this year, the gang has stolen dogs weighing a total of more than 100 tonnes from districts Tho Xuan, Trieu Son, Quang Xuong, and from Sam Son City and Thanh Hoa City.

On September 15, police raided three dog trading hubs operated by Le Thi Phuong, 34, from Tho Xuan District, and Bui Ngoc Duong, 35, and Nguyen Nhu Tuan, 37, both from Sam Son City.

Law enforcement seized 51 dogs weighing a total of 650kg, 10 electric stimulators, two stun guns, eight bottles of chilli powder, 20 motorbikes, 31 mobile phones, an assorted amount of swords and knives and cash worth VND50 million (US$2,150).

Thirty other suspects were also summoned. The police started legal proceedings against 16 defendants and issued a wanted notice for one alleged thief who fled his residence.

According to the initial investigation, Phuong, Duong and Tuan formed a number of gangs to steal dogs which were then taken to their respective houses for selling.

To steal the dogs, two men rode on a motorbike and used stun guns, electric stimulators and bait. The chili powder and other items were used to fight people and law enforcement forces who chased them.

The police are expanding the case and looking for other persons of interests. VNS