Police: 200 People Detained In Miami-Dade Cockfighting Ring Bust
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Police arrested hundreds of people on Thursday in connection to a cockfighting ring in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Detectives said they executed a search warrant at around 4:30p.m. at 25425 SW 212 Avenue as part of an ongoing investigation and discovered a large, operational cock-fighting ring, in-progress.
"There was an active fight between two roosters going on, we found several roosters dead and all of the people on the scene actually participating in the rooster fighting," said Major Ariel Artime with the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Detectives detained approximately 200 people who they say were betting on the fights at the time of the bust and anticipate most will be arrested and charged. They say the ring leader of the operation is also in custody.
During the raid, police said they found between 30 and 50 caged roosters, many were already dead. There was a full-scale fighting ring set up inside an illegally built structure on the property, according to investigators. Thousands of dollars, drugs and firearms were confiscated.
"It's significant not only because of the animal cruelty that's taking place here but also because of all the additional illicit activities that go on while these things take place such as the sale of alcohol, illegal narcotics, firearms," said Major Artime. "When you have these type of folks who are armed and coming around here with narcotics it's a perfect recipe for trouble."
County records show the 4,454 square foot home on the property is owned by Alejandro Queupumil, police did not release information on his possible involvement.
Charges for those arrested will include narcotics, weapons, illegal gambling, and animal cruelty.
Under a court order, the owner of the property must properly care for the remaining roosters until his trial.
