Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies raided a building in southwest Detroit on Saturday as part of a transnational probe into cockfighting, gambling and money laundering, WDIV reports. About 200 people were in the building, including undocumented immigrants, and dozens of arrests were made.
The raid took place about 1 p.m. in the 1200 block of Green Street near Interstate 75, reports Priya Mann. Roosters are placed in a ring and forced to fight to the death and people bet on the fight.
The Department of Homeland Security tells WDIV there's evidence that roosters were taken to the building specifically for illegal gambling and other financial crimes.
One man interviewed by Local 4 was an American citizen and allowed to go. Many others without proper documentation were taken to facilities in Detroit and Gibraltar and will appear before an immigration judge in the coming weeks.
Homeland Security collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, Border Patrol and Internal Revenue in the investigation.
