Illegal Fuel Farm Raid Leads To Discovery Of Growhouse, Cockfighting Ring
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Police going in for a fraud ring raid in southwest Miami-Dade got something a lot bigger.
Authorities burst through the gates of a home located at 12271 SW 46 Street after getting a warrant for an alleged gas theft ring.
Police said the fraud ring used a van to siphon gas out of station tanks, then they would resell it at a lower price.
Once police got there, they found up to 200 roosters, and a suspected cock fighting ring.
"When we came out here, we did find different types of tools used for the purposes of cock fighting," said Sean Gallagher with Miami-Dade Animal Services.
Miami-Dade Animal Services, along with investigators, came across three bloody roosters while checking the back yard -- filled with chicken coops. They also found evidence of fights.
"There were spurs that were found, artificial spurs. Those are used when the birds are going to be fought. The fowl are going to be caught. They'll clip the natural spurs off and attach the artificial spurs," said Gallagher.
Neighbor Betty Quintana knows cock fighting goes on in the area.
"It's a cruelty to the animal. I rescue horse and dogs," said Quintana. "I feel it's disgusting, really disgusting....You will find behind mansions cock fighters and when you see a person holding a rooster in their arm like it's a pet, that rooster's going down."
Gallagher said the fight rings are sometimes difficult to spot.
"I think it's really cruel to use animals for other's entertainment. It's barbaric. It's not something you do in modern society," said Gallagher.
Aside from chickens and barnyard animals, investigators also found pot during Thursday's raids. Several people were taken into custody.
