Mass arrests at cockfight
Huge police operation smashes illegal championship event
A TOTAL of 185 people were arrested on Saturday at a rural property in Sangonera la Verde near Murcia city, where illegal cockfights were being held.
Dozens of armed specialised National Police officers from Murcia, Valencia and Barcelona swooped on the event.
According to the National Police press office, 97 cocks were rescued, another six cocks were found dead and more than €300,000 cash was seized.
A force spokeswoman said that the venue was hosting the national cockfighting championship and the illegal event was attended by more than 200 people. She explained that the cocks had been trained to fight and had been given drugs and medicines to increase their aggressiveness and endurance.
She noted that the fights are ‘incredibly cruel’ as some of the cocks had metal spurs and blades attached to them to make the combat more savage.
He most important cock breeders from all over Spain were taking part.
The officers also found a marihuana plantation in a room at the rural property.
The suspects arrested at the event have been charged with a crime of animal abuse.
National Police court police and the police illegal gambling unit led the operation.
Around seven years ago another police raid against illegal cockfights was carried out at the same property in Sangonera la Verde.
The officers had targeted an event called the ‘million fight’.
All the participants, the owner and the people watching the area to warn participants in case the police arrived, were arrested and more than €70,000 was seized.