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Two men were arrested on Friday after the discovery of an alleged cockfighting breeding operation with hundreds of birds on a property in southwestern Miami-Dade, Florida.
According to the Telemundo 51 network, during the operation the agents from the Hammocks district of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Department observed between 500 and 600 caged roosters, as well as a closed ring used for training.
The authorities also found multiple items associated with this type of illegal activity, including large quantities of vitamins, syringes, medications, and devices used to agitate the roosters.
The arrested individuals were identified as Jorge Soto, 57, and Leonardo Ortiz, 63. Authorities noted that Ortiz has an extensive criminal record related to animal cruelty, documented in several court cases.
During the interviews following the reading of his rights, Soto indicated that he does not reside on the property, but that he goes there several times a week at Ortiz's request to help take care of the roosters.
Ortiz, for his part, stated that he has lived on the property for less than 30 days and claimed ownership of some of the roosters located in one section of the land, although he denied breeding them for fights and assured that other birds belong to an unidentified individual who also resides on the property.
Both were transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight correctional facility by agents from the Hammocks district.
A series of operations in the southwest of Miami-Dade
This case adds to a series of operations against cockfighting recorded in the southwest of Miami-Dade over the past year.
In May 2025, the Sheriff's Department dismantled a large network in the rural area of Redland that resulted in 42 arrests, the seizure of 72 roosters, and $39,147 in cash.
Days later, a joint operation at 1302 SW 203rd Avenue uncovered another clandestine breeding site with a dozen roosters, along with 30 grams of cocaine and 700 grams of marijuana.
Cockfighting is illegal throughout the state of Florida under Statute 828.122, classified as a third-degree felony with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.
"Animal fights are not only inhumane, but they are often linked to other serious crimes. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office remains committed to protecting both the people and the animals in our community," the agency stated.
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