LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities have seized 250 roosters, 150 guns, and $175,000 in cash after raiding a suspected cockfighting operation in Southern California, officials announced Thursday.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and federal agents descended upon a property in the San Bernardino Mountains Wednesday, targeting a suspected cockfighting operation that authorities had been investigating for months.
Crews seized the roosters, cocks, and other evidence, including 150 guns, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns, as well as $175,000 in cash, said Game Warden Robb Stauss.
Stauss said the suspected cockfighting operation was linked to a large gang, and the investigation was ongoing to identify those involved.
“By shutting down this illegal operation, we are disrupting the illegal wildlife trafficking and the associated criminal activity that supports it,” he said.
The birds seized were placed into the care of a local animal shelter, where they will receive medical attention and care.
The bust is part of a broader effort by state and federal agencies to combat wildlife trafficking and its ties to organized crime. The illegal cockfighting industry is a brutal and inhumane activity that can involve the mistreatment and death of thousands of birds each year.
This is the latest in a string of successful operations targeting illegal wildlife trafficking and related crimes in the state. In recent years, authorities have cracked down on illegal marijuana grows, wildlife trafficking, and other illicit activities, resulting in hundreds of arrests and millions of dollars in cash and assets seized.
A racketeering charge was filed against one man, aged 38, in connection with the cockfighting bust, and authorities believe there could be additional arrests in the coming days. The suspect was expected to be arraigned later Thursday.