Lethal cockfighting spurs seized by CBP
On 17 January 2023, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Louisville Port of Entry targeted a package arriving from Mexico City.
The officers inspected the parcel and found 120 cockfighting spurs and two gaffs/leg attachment sheaths. Cockfighting spurs are razor-sharp blades tied to the bird’s legs.
During a cockfight, the birds are placed in a pen face-to-face and commonly use these spurs to kill or incapacitate their opponent. These spurs are so dangerous that handlers are often slashed by their own bird.
The shipment, headed to a residence in Rantoul, Illinois, was manifested as handcrafted Mexican artisan rattles. These spurs are illegal in USA. Additionally, cockfighting is illegal as part of the Farm Act, which banned cockfighting in all 16 US territories in 2018. (cj)