NEWS
Cockfighting bust near Roswell detains 100
Event fell one week after El Gallo Show in Hobbs
Published
Modified
Over 100 people were detained last weekend at a ranch outside Roswell over what Chaves County鈥檚 undersheriff said appears to be a large ongoing cockfighting ring.
The sport, illegal throughout the United States, pits roosters 鈥� specially bred and sometimes medicated to enhance aggression 鈥� in an enclosed pit to fight. The matches end in death or severe injuries, including broken bones, gouged eyes or wounds from curved blades, or gaffs, strapped to the birds鈥� legs.
Undersheriff Charles Yslas issued a news release over the weekend announcing Saturday鈥檚 bust following a tip received by the sheriff鈥檚 office. Yslas said search warrants were obtained and executed. Approximately 20 individuals attempted to escape the grounds by running across an adjacent farm field, but were detained, Yslas said.
No suspects have been officially named, although three were said to be primary suspects, with one described as 鈥渁 local business owner (who) deals in the organization of events and renting venues.鈥� Yslas said deputies and detectives were on scene Saturday and Sunday gathering statements and evidence with additional police assisting in securing the location.
Yslas reported that electronic devices, ledgers, safes, roosters and cockfighting equipment were seized in an investigation he said was ongoing. The New Mexico Livestock Board sent inspectors to the scene as well and Yslas said additional agencies were involved as authorities learn more about the scope of the alleged ring.
鈥淏ased on the evidence obtained at this time, it appears this is a huge event that has been on-going for some time,鈥� Yslas wrote.
From photographs released by the sheriff鈥檚 office, the location of the operation was the Anaya Trinity Ranch, which is listed on Airbnb for guest rentals. The ranch did not respond to a query from the Journal on Tuesday and an associated business hung up after dialing a reporter one minute later.
Cockfighting has been connected with organized crime and activities including gambling, money laundering and trafficking in firearms and drugs. Derbies are often a venue for other illicit transactions, according to multiple investigations by law enforcement and nongovernmental organizations including Animal Wellness Action.
Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, praised the Chaves County Sheriff鈥檚 Office for taking action against the derby.
鈥淪outhern New Mexico has always been a hotspot,鈥� Pacelle said in an interview. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a border area with Mexico, where there鈥檚 a tremendous amount of cockfighting and a lot of cross-border movement.鈥�
New Mexico was the 49th state to ban cockfighting in 2007 and there are federal laws prohibiting organizing cockfighting pits, breeding or transporting birds for fighting and even being a spectator at a fight.
Animal Wellness Action and other advocates have called for still more stringent laws cracking down on animal fighting, with the U.S. believed to be the world鈥檚 main breeding ground for fighting birds exported to at least 30 countries.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a major organized criminal network,鈥� Pacelle said. 鈥淚f you want to fight crime in America, the best thing to do is bust a dogfight or a cockfight. You gather up people involved in a wide range of crimes in one place.鈥�
One week before the Roswell event, on March 21, the El Gallo Show 鈥� a traveling trade and exhibit show featuring rooster breeders and vendors selling decorative gaff holsters, ointments, supplements and items associated with cockfighting 鈥� was held at the Corral Arena in Hobbs.
The popular exhibition is organized by KC Ranch of Texas. Its founder, Katalina Carvente, maintains the show is not involved in illegal cockfighting and caters to animal husbandry, breeders preserving genetic lines and collectors. Carvente did not respond to a query from the Journal but in an interview last year, she said, 鈥淭hese shows produce massive amounts of money throughout the U.S. and let our children and new generations continue to keep these bloodlines alive without having anything to do with cockfighting.鈥�
District Attorney Dianna Luce鈥檚 office, the state prosecutor for Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties, told the Journal it had not received any criminal referrals from the cockfighting bust as of Tuesday afternoon.
Yslas has not provided any updates on the investigation since Sunday, and the office did not make anyone available for comment on Tuesday.
Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.
