In the Nueva San Rafael neighborhood, municipality of Naucalpan, State of Mexico, a raid allowed for the detention of several individuals and the seizure of roosters used in fights. The animals were placed under the care of state environmental authorities. The Attorney General's Office of the State of Mexico (FGJEM), in collaboration with the National Guard (GN), State Security Secretariat (SSEM), and the Municipal Public Safety and Traffic Directorate of Naucalpan, managed to detain 14 individuals and rescued 36 fighting roosters. An anonymous tip alerted about clandestine rooster fights, leading to the execution of the raid.
The rescued roosters will be cared for by the State Commission of Natural Parks and Wildlife (CEPANAF) at the Zacango Zoo. The property was secured by the state attorney’s office and seals were placed by the municipal government. In the State of Mexico, animal abuse is severely punished according to the Penal Code. Deliberate harm to animals not considered pests, with or without intention to cause death, is punishable by imprisonment from six months to four years and fines from one hundred fifty to three hundred days.
An increase in the penalty is expected if the abuse is photographed, recorded on video, or disseminated, reaching six years of imprisonment and fines from two hundred to four hundred days if the animal's agony is prolonged. Sanctions can increase by up to half if animal abuse is perpetrated by public servants responsible for the care of animals. It should be noted that activities such as charreadas, jaripeos, rodeos, bullfighting, rooster fights, animal training, hunting, fishing, or rescue are exempted from this regulation, as long as they are conducted according to current legislation.
The detainees were identified as Rafael “N”, Raúl “N”, Pedro “N”, Ramiro “N”, Hugo “N”, Sergio “N”, Gilberto “N”, Armando “N”, Abraham “N”, Gilberto “N N”, Jorge “N”, Miguel “N”, Alexander “N”, and Armando “N N”. During the raid, nine dead roosters and 36 live ones were found, and the detainees were presented to the Public Prosecutor's Agent to initiate an investigation for animal abuse and determine their legal situation.
