Expat arrested for butchering cats, cooking cat meat

An illegal migrant has been arrested under accusations of butchering, cooking and selling food made with cat meat.

Maldives Immigration on Monday publicized a summons notice for the man named MD Arfat Hossain, 32, to appear within five days, after the issue garnered public attention following a post on social media by Feline Welfare Organization, a local NGO.

Hossain was identified by the animal rights group as an illegal expatriate working in the capital, Malé City.

The issue of the illegal migrant native to Bangladesh was brought to the attention of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) as well.

In a post on social media platform ‘X’ on Tuesday, Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed confirmed that Hossain has been located and brought under custody.

Spokesperson of MPS Ahmed Shifan has also confirmed the Bangladeshi man’s arrest.

The immigration department revealed that the arrest was made with assistance from the police institution, upon receiving an intel report.

According to posts circulating on social media platforms, the suspect is accused of butchering, cooking, eating and selling food prepared using cat meat.

Alongside preparing and selling food parcels at home, the illegal migrant also worked at the Valhomas “Bondhu” Market.

Unhygienic food handling practices and food safety standards are grave issues among the Maldivian communities and this particular case has churned public outcry, with several pouring onto social media platforms demanding to know the details of the suspect’s food business.

The case has made the spotlight amid a widescale operation being conducted by authorities to crackdown on groups of illegal migrants residing and working in the Maldives.

Several locations have been raided in the capital region so far and hordes of illegal migrants are being arrested and deported for being involved in illegal businesses.