75 Arrested in Alabama Cockfighting Operation Bust
75 individuals have been arrested in Alabama following a raid on a cockfighting operation by federal, state, and local enforcement officers.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Authorities indicate that the cockfighting ring was part of a larger organized crime network, engaging in activities like illegal betting, drug trafficking, and other serious offenses. At the scene of the bust, officials confiscated firearms and cash linked to illegal gambling.
Among the 75 apprehended, many are US citizens, but a considerable number are individuals in the country without legal immigration status.
According to Special Agent Steven Schrank, the cockfighting ring involved cruel treatment of animals, exploitation, and victimization for financial gain through an illegal betting scheme.
Schrank noted that the roosters were fitted with sharp blades, leading to brutal fights where the animals would often be fatally injured.
Alabama currently prohibits sports betting and other types of gambling, with a few exceptions, such as horse racing and greyhound racing.
Schrank added, "It's just terrible to see this, especially in a part of the state and a part of the country where we have significant poultry operations."
More Regulation News
National Effort Against Cockfighting
The crackdown on cockfighting is not unique to Alabama, as many states are implementing similar measures. Cockfighting is prohibited under US law and is classified as a felony in 42 states. Penalties for attending or transporting animals to fighting events can include up to 3 years in federal prison.
Enforcement actions have been reported in other jurisdictions like Mississippi, Nevada, New York, California, Kentucky, and Georgia.
In New York, 'Operation Angry Birds' led to the seizure of over 3,000 birds and felony charges against nine men. A larger bust in Los Angeles in 2017 involved over 7,000 birds.
Last month, the ICE Homeland Security Task Force and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force dismantled a cockfighting ring in Mississippi. Just like in Alabama, authorities found chickens armed with sharp blades and knives.
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