The cockfighting business on the border: Illegal breeding farms in the US and birds sold for thousands of dollars to cartels in Mexico

"According to investigations by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, Mexican cartels often use these clandestine events for meetings, money laundering, and as a platform for settling disputes."

"Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, warns that breeders in the U.S. operate illegally in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arizona, where they breed millions of birds each year."

"American cockfighting breeders supply hundreds of thousands of fighting birds to Mexican cartels every year. A trio of these birds can sell for up to $5,000."

Cockfighting is a significant element of organized crime in the U.S. and Mexico, connecting various illegal activities. Investigations reveal that Mexican cartels utilize these events for meetings and money laundering. The U.S. is the leading breeder of fighting roosters, with illegal operations in several states. Millions of birds are bred annually and sent primarily to Mexico, where cockfighting is legal. The trade has intensified over the past four decades, with American breeders supplying hundreds of thousands of birds to Mexican cartels, with high market values for these animals.

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