Catherine Field cockfighting ring smashed in NSW Police, RSPCA operation

Police have busted the biggest cockfighting ring the state has seen in 20 years mid-way through one of its “abhorrent” fight-to-the-death meetings.

Police have busted the biggest cockfighting ring the state has seen in 20 years mid-way through one of its “abhorrent” fight-to-the-death meetings in Sydney’s south west.

Thirty-five men were arrested and forced onto the floor of a shed beside a small fighting pen when armed police stormed the Catherine Field acreage with RSPCA investigators in tow at 11am Sunday.

Organised Crime Squad detectives make multiple arrests. Picture: NSW Police

The property raided by police and the RSPCA. Picture: NSW Police

Authorities seized 71 fighting cockerels.

The bust was a joint investigation. Pictures: NSW Police

One of the 71 hens seized from the property was so severely injured it had to be euthanised on Monday, deemed “cruel to be kept alive”, and there are fears the remaining animals are too aggressive to rehome.

The alleged sophisticated ring uncovered by the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad involved the men – some with alleged links to Vietnamese organised crime - betting against one another across the fighting ring.

The hens allegedly had sharp blades strapped to their feet for each fight. Vision of the police raid shows the blades were given disturbing names such as “Mexican slasher”, “Bayonet” and “socket knife”.

“This type of abhorrent practice involves persons fixing sharpened spikes, spurs or small blades to the feet of two cockerels who will, in turn, fight until one of the cockerels is either dead or seriously injured and can no longer fight,” squad commander Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman said.

“Getting enjoyment out of livestock killing each other and making money out of it is quite disgraceful.”

The joint operation dismantled ahe illegal cockfighting syndicate. Picture: NSW Police

Det-Supt Fileman said the blood-sport worked similarly to two-up and each of the men arrested were allegedly found with cash on them.

All 35 men are expected to be charged with animal cruelty.

One man, 28, was also charged with drug possession and knowingly produce false/misleading document and another was charged with contravening an AVO.

Home Affairs are also investigating the visa status of one man, aged 58, who was arrested at the property.

RSPCA chief executive Steven Coleman said the alleged cockfighting ring, the most sophisticated he had seen in 20 years, involved “despicable” cruelty.

“These birds are literally fighting to survive. There’s only one outcome with organised cockfighting and that is an animal has to die and if it doesn’t die at the time of the illegal activity it will die shortly thereafter,” Mr Coleman said.

“Some of the breed lines of these birds are quite specific … specific breeding to ensure they produce a bird that is ready to fight and is obviously quite strong.”

He said the RSPCA would try and rehome the cockerels if possible but it was likely many would be put down.

“It’s another sad story on the end of what is already a terrible set of circumstances. The likelihood of being able to rehome fighting birds is very difficult … the unfortunate reality is that most of these birds are likely to be euthanised.”

He said the extent of cockfighting taking place in NSW was difficult to gauge given intelligence was difficult to come by. Police came across this alleged fighting ring during a separate organised crime investigation.