BREAKING NEWS: OPERATION GAFF HOOK STRIKE!
Special Response Unit, Law Enforcement and ARM’s Founder, ‘Kudo’ discuss tactics prior to the bust.
In the dawn hours of October 17th, a convoy of specialized tactical agencies and units joined forces to execute a strike on the ‘illegal slaughter house of horrors’, which ARM had been undercover for a grueling seven months.
What was uncovered, in a rural area of South Miami (Florida), known as the ‘Redlands’, was a long list of felony charges of extreme animal cruelty, inhumane slaughter, un-licensced selling of meat for human consumption and neglect, amongst a long list of shocking animal cruelty related charges.
In an alarming twist of events, ARM, law enforcment agencies and the Miami Dade State Attorney’s office unveiled additional incriminating evidence of suspected horse meat distribution, felony thefts of endangered wildlife and felonies involving the killing of protected species, whilst searching the property.
The property, titled by ARM as Operation Gaff Hook, was given it’s name because of the use of large fishing instrument gaff hooks that were used to drag the pigs to the butcher area prior to being slaughtered, whilst alive. This was a procedure never before witnessed by ARM investigators who were undercover since May of 2015. It was also a method that was one of the most traumatising for the animals to endure.
The animal offenders arrested were, Angel Ricardo Vargas (45) on five counts of felony animal cruelty with a $50,000 bond and a nebbia hold that was placed as a condition. If bonded out, Vargas will be placed on house arrest with GPS tracking monitor. His wife Mayelin Rodriguez (40) was also arrested for two counts of animal cruelty with a $25,000 bond. The same conditions were ordered including the nebbia condition on the bond and a house arrest and GPS, if bonded out.
ARM’s emergency animal response team jumps into action to save sick and abused animals.
The Judge at the following morning’s bond hearing, Mindy Glaser, commented that this was not a normal case and that the manner of this case was extreme and very disturbing.
The details of this case are ongoing and more information will be updated as the case evolves. To learn more about this investigation by clicking here.
Watch on the scene reports here:
Sneak peek of on the day action. More coming soon!
