Police raid uncovers cockfighting factory

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- New York police say a raid of an area building has allegedly uncovered a breeding ground for birds that would take part in illegal cockfighting.

Al Lombardo, investigative deputy chief for Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, alleged the apartment building housed a total 59 birds, some of which appeared to be veterans of the illicit competitions, the New York Daily News said Wednesday.

"There is no ring here, but they were breeding and housing them for the fights," Lombardo said.

Meanwhile, Deputy District Attorney Carol Moran dismissed claims by suspects Juan Corchado and Pedro Mejia that they used razor blades found on scene to shave the overheated animals.

"They are placing razor blades on the birds' legs to cut humidity? No, these animals were trained to kill everything around them," Moran alleged following Wednesday's raid.

The Daily News said the two men will now face felony charges of violating New York's agriculture and markets law, which outlaws any form of animal fighting.