In America, cockfighting is illegal in all fifty states, and it is a felony crime if forty of those fifty. However, this cruel and thriving illegal industry still plagues the United States.

Since ARM’s incorporation in 2010, it has executed 25 Animal fighting operations to date, including Operation El Traingulo and Operation Gallo, both which are located in the State of Florida.

Cockfighting is a deathly spectator game sport, with exorbitant monetary gain and gambling aspects associated with it. It is a part of a seedy, underground world of debauchery, corruption, and amongst all-egregious animal cruelty and felony criminal activity. 

From a humanitarian standpoint, the quality of care that animals receive ranges from next to very little to over the top. One day they are treasured as prized birds as they duel in bloody battles, not only to win but to ensure more enormous stakes of money. When they lose, they are discarded ‘quite literally’ as trash.

About Operation El Triangulo:

In March of 2018, following long-distance surveillance on a suspected cockfighting property in South Miami, ARM’s undercover agents gathered evidence to confirm its suspicions of the illegal operation and entered the business under the guise of customers. The cockfighting operation, identified as Rancho El Triangulo, is located at 21303 SW 213th Avenue Rd, Miami, Florida 33187. The thriving operation is owned and controlled by a man in his fifties, Julio Cesar Nodar.

On days of the fights, attendees often escalate up to hundreds of attendees. Kept under a cloak of secrecy of the underground world of gambling and animal fighting, patrons drive up to a large gate and honk for assistance. Once cleared, they pay an entrance fee of $20 and are ushered inside to place bets on the fights, or prepare their fighting birds. The busiest day of the week is a Saturday, and scheduled matches occur between 1.30 pm and approximately 7.00 pm.

Throughout ARM’s investigations at Rancho El Triangulo, undercover operatives documented the average bet on a fight as approximately USD 50 – 300. The winning payout of a match averaged at a payout purse of USD 1200. The most prestigious money-making matches take place towards the end of the day when bigger crowds come, and bets exceed USD 500.

Onsite at Rancho El Triangulo, roosters fight for 25 minutes in the ring. The fight ends when a rooster is overruled, killed or when the 25 minute time period expires. Before the commencement of each fight, spectators place their bets. Throughout the fight, bets are placed and increased as the heat of the grueling fight escalates.

During the extensive undercover investigation, ARM agents documented birds prepared for fights with 3-inch spurs secured to their legs. During bloody fights, the spurs inflict life-threatening damage. When a rooster loses a fight and succumbs to its opponent’s victory, that animal isn’t worthy of life. ARM investigators documented countless birds tossed away into trash cans with broken bottles and food scraps strewn on top of them as they slowly expire from exhaustion and injuries.

Aside from the criminal aspect of the animal fighting activity, there is also a cantina onsite that sells liquor, beer, and food. Rancho El Triangulo holds no business permits, including any licenses/permits which allow the legal sale of beer and liquor.

On June 19th, 2018, ARM returned to Rancho El Triangulo during the height of the week’s busiest day. 

Stay tuned for updates on the outcome as they develop.

Please support critical animal cruelty investigations like this one by considering a contribution.