EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A 52-year-old man from Kansas was arrested Wednesday after he was allegedly caught trying to smuggle cockfighting paraphernalia into the U.S. from Mexico.
According to the El Paso Police Department, Heriberto Munoz Valenzuela was arrested at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing when officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected his vehicle and reported finding cockfighting gaffs (sharp blades used in cockfighting).
As a result, EPPD’s Animal Cruelty unit was called in and, after an investigation, determined the cockfighting equipment was being smuggled from Mexico to be distributed in the U.S.
Kansas man caught with cockfighting paraphernalia. Credit: EPPD via Instagram
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Jail records show Valenzuela was booked into the El Paso County Downtown Jail, where he was charged with “cockfighting: space/owns/trains/equips.”
According to jail records, Valenzuela was released Thursday after posting a surety bond of $5,000.
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