The Mexican military's recent takedown operation targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of one of the country's most powerful cartels, has brought to light the involvement of these criminal organizations in illegal cockfighting activities. Known as El Mencho, Cervantes' apprehension efforts have exposed the breadth of cartel-controlled cockfighting crime syndicates that extend their influence across the southern border of the United States. These syndicates are implicated in various forms of criminal enterprise, highlighting the complex transnational nature of cartel operations. The revelations underscore challenges faced by law enforcement on both sides of the border combating intertwined activities of drug trafficking and illegal gambling associated with animal fighting events. This development adds a new dimension to understanding cartel economies beyond narcotics trafficking, revealing deeply rooted illicit networks tied to traditional and underground sports such as cockfighting.