The money’s in the kitty, say Thai cops after drug bust

● Six pedigree cats valued at thousands of dollars were confiscated in a Thai drug network raid on suspicion they were being used to launder money, police said this week as animal rights activists protested against a plan to auction them off.

The cats, including five of the Scottish Fold breed and one Bengal, were confiscated on Monday after a raid at a house in Thailand’s Rayong province that belonged to a woman suspected of drug trafficking.

The woman was identified as one of three in a network that authorities had sought to arrest since January, police said, adding that she had fled before they arrived.

Police seized the house, the land, a car and the six cats on suspicion of being assets used to launder money. As living assets, the cats will be the subject of a public auction while the case is continuing, police said.

“The six foreign-breed cats are valued up to tens of thousands of baht [thousands of dollars], which is considered money laundering,” said Pornchai Charoenwong, deputy commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau.

Pornchai said that if the woman owner presents proof that she was not involved in the drug network, the cats and other assets will be returned to her, or she will be reimbursed with the auction money.

The case has stirred debate on social media in Thailand about whether confiscated pets should be put up for auction.

Animal welfare groups urged authorities to hand the cats over to them so they can find them loving homes.

“Pet shops will be queuing up to buy them, but they shouldn’t have to be commercialised again. They’re pets. They’re living things,” said Roger Lohanan, secretary-general of the Thai Animal Guardians Association. “We should prioritise animal welfare before lining state pockets.”