Florida police just busted a cockfighting ring that sends a scary warning about border security

A violent altercation led police to uncover an illegal operation in Miami-Dade County that shows just how bad crime has gotten in America.

The shocking discovery came as deputies responded to what they thought was just another fight.

And Florida police just busted a cockfighting ring that sends a scary warning about border security.

Sheriff’s deputies stumbled upon a massive cockfighting operation

What started as a routine call about a physical altercation quickly turned into one of the largest cockfighting busts in recent Florida history.

Deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a fight possibly involving knives at a rural property located in the 14000 block of Southwest 192nd Avenue on Friday, May 16.

When they arrived at the scene, they found much more than just an argument.

“When deputies arrived at the scene, they observed people fighting and also saw them engaging in illegal game fowl fighting,” the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reported. “Deputies said they saw a large gathering of people and multiple roosters roaming freely on the property.”

As law enforcement approached, people began fleeing in all directions – both on foot and in vehicles.

But deputies managed to apprehend one person who was found in possession of rooster spurs, a clear indicator of cockfighting activity.

A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of 42 individuals involved in this barbaric ritual. 

Authorities also seized $39,147 in cash and rescued 72 roosters from the property.

The cockfighting ring included foreign nationals

Local 10 News reported that those arrested included individuals from various backgrounds, with several reportedly being foreign nationals.

Five of the alleged participants were identified, including:

• Juan González, 53 years old, from Hialeah;
• Osbel Alfonso, 32 years old, from Hialeah;
• Frank Miguel Delgado Casas, 36 years old;
• Tomás La Rosa Hernández, 34 years old; and
• Dennis Chov Moreno, 53 years old.

CBS Miami reported that seven detainees had already posted bail, including:

• Luisor Barrios, 46 years old;
• Xonia Rivero, 52 years old;
• Jorge González-Díaz, 35 years old;
• Félix Arrocha, 43 years old;
• Fernando Franchi Alfaro, 59 years old;
• Frank Miguel Delgado Casas, 36 years old; and
• Osbel Alfonso, 32 years old.

All face charges of attending the fighting or baiting of animals and resisting without violence.

Organized crime thrives under weak border enforcement

Cockfighting has been illegal in all 50 states since 2008, but the barbaric practice continues to flourish in underground settings. 

It’s particularly prevalent in regions with significant foreign influence, where the practice may be more culturally accepted.

Law enforcement experts have repeatedly warned that animal fighting rings often serve as hubs for other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, weapons sales, and illegal gambling.

“Animal fighting is not only inhumane, but it often goes hand-in-hand with other serious crimes,” Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said in a statement following the arrests.

The prevalence of such operations raises serious questions about border security and the influx of foreign criminal enterprises into American communities. 

Under the Biden-Harris administration, southern border crossings reached record highs, allowing criminal networks to expand their operations into the United States with relative ease.

The scale of this operation – with dozens of participants and nearly $40,000 in cash on hand – indicates this wasn’t just a casual gathering but a sophisticated criminal enterprise.

A growing nationwide problem

This Florida bust is just the latest example of a disturbing trend seen across the country.

Animal welfare organizations have documented hundreds of cockfighting operations in recent years, with many tied to international criminal organizations. 

These groups exploit America’s porous borders to transport fighting animals, drugs, and weapons.

The connection between animal fighting rings and other criminal activities poses a significant threat to community safety. 

The violent nature of cockfighting – where roosters are fitted with sharp spurs and forced to fight to the death – often attracts individuals with violent tendencies.

“This type of cruelty and illegal activity has no place in our community,” Sheriff Cordero-Stutz emphasized.

While local law enforcement agencies work diligently to shut down these operations, they face an uphill battle without stronger border security and immigration enforcement.

This latest bust serves as a stark reminder that weak border policies don’t just impact border communities – they allow criminal enterprises to take root throughout the country, including in places like Miami-Dade County.