During a drug bust at Rockland Key apartments on Thursday, Monroe County Sheriff investigators stumbled upon what appeared to be a massive cockfighting operation involving over 250 chickens.
Special Investigations Division detectives had warrants to search two apartments as part of a month-long narcotics investigation.
At the second address, officers found 169 chickens with injuries typical of cockfighting, according to a MSO release. They also found blood in a cockfighting ring on the property in addition to cockfighting accessories like spurs and medications to treat injured chickens.
Between the two apartments, more than 250 chickens were found and are now under the care of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
One resident, Jorge Blanco Jr., 20, was charged with 52 counts of animal cruelty as well as fighting and baiting chickens.
In addition to the cockfighting operation, Monroe County Sheriff investigators found a shotgun, rifle, handgun, $3,306 in suspected drug proceeds, as well as a scale used to weigh illegal substances in one location.
At the other, they found 1.1 ounces of powdered cocaine and $905.00 in suspected drug proceeds, according to the release.
41-year-old Jorge Enrique Blanco was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jorge Blanco Jr. and Jorge Enrique Blanco