Operation Sunrise

US Customs captured the second and final animal abuser of the Sunrise Illegal animal slaughter and sacrifice farm as he re-entered the United States, on August 29, 2018, almost two months to the date 

The Sunrise Police Department searched for the animal’s owner since the June seizure of over 300 animals, which was conducted by ARM.  Police arrested Nour Albandakji (51), got arrested for 17 felonies and seven misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

The first arrest was served upon Kalito Jones Sunday (67), charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty and seven counts of confining animals without proper food and water.

ARM also obtained intel that in 2011, residents and at the time City Commissioner, Sheila Alu, exposed and intervened in a large animal sacrifice event occurring on the Sunrise property. The sacrifice was in preparation for the holiest animal sacrifice events on the Muslim calendar, known as Eid-Al-Adha. Coincidentally, ARM recently returned from an international investigation in Bangladesh documenting this same festival. (Click here to learn more).

Albandakji was subjecting countless animals to both religious sacrifice and slaughter for human consumption and had been keeping the animals in some of the most deplorable conditions that ARM investigators have witnessed before. The animals were transported directly to ARM Sanctuary, where they underwent extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.

On Thursday, June 28, 2018, ARM responded to hundreds of animals’ critical rescue calls, following an anonymous tip of animals ailing on an expansive, broken-down property in Sunrise of Florida.

Immediately, ARM’s animal transport units, Sanctuary staff, and veterinarians headed to the site and began treating, rounding up and transporting emaciated, dehydrated and severely sick animals to our private sanctuary.

The original estimated 75 animals quickly escalated to over 300 animals, and ARM has been working tirelessly around the clock to stabilize and accommodate the animals’ immediate needs.

Overnight, ARM’s Sanctuary doubled its residents, which involved over 12 months of care in saving these animals from peril.

Law enforcement conducted two arrests upon the brutal anima abusers and butchers. On the day of the raid, Kalito Jones Sunday (67), charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty and seven counts of confining animals without proper food and water. Several months later, after eluding arrest, Nour Albandakji (51) was arrested for 17 felonies and seven misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, after US Customs captured him as he re-entered the United States. The Sunrise Police Department had been searching for the owner of the animals since the June seizure.

Albandakji was subjecting countless animals to both religious sacrifice and slaughter for human consumption and had been keeping the animals in some of the most deplorable conditions that ARM investigators have witnessed before.

Read the entire report here