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Authorities raid suspected cockfighting site in Detroit

Posted at 1:26 PM, Mar 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-20 13:26:43-04

DETROIT (AP) — Authorities say they’ve detained about 50 people for suspected immigration law violations following an investigation into cockfighting and illegal gambling in southwest Detroit.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Khaalid Walls tells the Detroit Free Press that dozens of people were inside the building when authorities executed a search warrant on Saturday. He says those arrested will face removal proceedings.

Walls says that about 140 federal, state and local law enforcement officials were involved in the raid, which was led by Homeland Security Investigations. He tells The Associated Press in an email Monday that more than 100 birds were taken by agriculture officials.

Walls says authorities “had information that this was nuisance” to the area and had investigated for several months. He says the investigation is ongoing.