Homeland Security Busts a Cockfighting Ring on US Soil

Gambling crime in the United States is looked down upon, whether it’s slot parlors in Texas or offshore betting and casino websites targeting people in New Jersey.

Major Cockfighting Ring Busted by Joint Task Force

Now, a joint investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force has resulted in the dismantling of an illegal cockfighting ring operating out of Harrison County, Mississippi.

The venue was raided by security agency agents, who found 24 people in attendance. The site was used for hosting cockfighting contests, which are usually accompanied by illicit gambling activity.

Cockfighting is also illegal and breaches multiple state and federal animal welfare laws. The property was located in the Lizana neighborhood and is said to have held hundreds of birds as prisoners to be used in the contests.

Agents apprehended an estimated 20 people involved in the betting, with wagers already being placed at the time of the raid. ICE HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune said this was the latest example of an underground gambling operation that could be easily linked to other crimes, including narcotics, money laundering, and violence.

By conducting these crackdowns on such operations, argued DeLaune, the agency is able to protect communities and take action against unlawful practices.

Fighting Crime Requires Imagination

In the United Kingdom, a footage of two policemen dressed as Batman and Robin, operating undercover, and taking down criminals has become a social media hit. This was, in fact, a sting operation, with Scotland Yard trying to target criminals who were, in turn, targeting tourists with various gambling scams.

Inspector Darren Watson and Constable Abdi Osman have explained that constables had to dress up to avoid detection, and although the idea to pose as comic book characters was not immediately popular, the sheer improbability of policemen dressed as superheroes made it an effective strategy.

Cock fighting has been a rather popular sport, too. In 2023, Texans policemen raided a cock fighting arena, to find 100 vehicles parked outside. Despite the high odds of getting caught, such illicit venues continue to spring up all across the South of the United States.