No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeAnimal crueltyPolice break up cockfighting ring over the weekend, save 120 roosters

Police break up cockfighting ring over the weekend, save 120 roosters

More than 1,200 people were attending an illegal cockfight on Saturday when police raided it on a farm in Barrio Mercedes de Atenas, 40 kilometers west of Costa Rica’s capital.

Agents from three police units and the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) descended on the farm at 4 p.m. after receiving an anonymous tip. Inside one of the buildings, cops found an elaborate cockfighting stadium with seating for at least 250, according to the daily La Nación. In the back, police found sets of spurs, which were affixed to the roosters’ heels during the fights, and a row of trophies that would have been awarded to the winning birds.

Police shut down the party, seized coolers full of liquor and beer for sale without permits, and arrested two men in possession of illegal firearms. While officials were able to save 120 birds, they could not determine who owned the property.

“This is one of the largest cockfighting rings we have ever broken up,” SENASA legal adviser Antonio Vanderluch told La Nación. “There were a lot of people involved.”

Cockfighting events are illegal in Costa Rica, and property owners convicted of hosting them face fines of up to ₡25 million ($46,000).

 

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel...

Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

A court on Tuesday ordered Costa Rican authorities to release foreign migrants who had been detained in a shelter after being deported under an...

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica