A Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force has dismantled an illegal cockfighting and gambling operation in Blount County, Alabama. The operation, conducted on Saturday (June 14), resulted in the arrest of 60 individuals, with 55 identified as illegal border crossers. The task force, which includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), FBI, IRS, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), was supported by the U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies.
According to ICE, the raid targeted illegal animal fighting, the presence of illegal aliens, and gambling activities. Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank emphasized that the operation was linked to broader criminal activities, including drug trafficking and violent offenses. He stated, "These criminal enterprises endanger our communities, and HSI remains steadfast in its mission to disrupt and dismantle them."
Authorities seized over $100,000 in cash and two firearms during the operation. The Wetumpka Herald reported that the U.S. citizens arrested face federal indictments for organizing the criminal enterprise, while four foreign nationals were charged with felony illegal reentry after previous deportation.
The case is being prosecuted in the Northern District of Alabama, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat illegal activities tied to animal cruelty and gambling. The ASPCA notes that cockfighting, illegal in all 50 states, often involves other crimes, such as gambling and drug use, further endangering communities.