Brazilian authorities have raided several properties in the towns of Gramado and Igrejinha linked to Alexandre Bertolucci, the partner of Katia Aveiro. The operation targeted an illegal cockfighting ring where more than 1,500 roosters were discovered living in abusive conditions. While the investigation is ongoing, no formal charges have been filed against Bertolucci, who deniies any criminal involvement.
1,500 Mura roosters and the brutality of the Gramado raids
The scale of the operation uncovered by police is significant, with 1,500 Mura roosters—a breed specifically developed for aggression—found in deplorable conditions. According to the Daily Mail, investigators discovered that the birds were subjected to severe mutilations to increase their fighting efficacy. This included the removal of the comb to prevet opponents from gripping and the removal of the hallux, or rear toe, to allow for the attachment of artificial spurs.
Detective Gustavo de Mattos Brentano stated that the facilities were used for breeding,selling, and training these animals for illegal events.. At the Gramado property owned by Alexandre Bertolucci, police found an above-ground pool-like structure used to simulate cockfighting rings. The birds were kept in cramped cages with insufficient food and water, leading to physical injuries on their wings and chests.
The $5,400 prize and Brazil's underground gambling rings
This investigation reflects a wider, systemic issue with illegal animal fighting in rural Brazil. As the Daily Mail reported, top-tier roosters can fetch prices as high as $5,400 in a market driven by heavy gambling. These operations often operate as criminal associations, utilizing remote rural locations to avoid the gaze of law enforcement.
To maintain secrecy, these rings frequently coordinate their events via WhatsApp groups, allowing organizers to alert participants to the time and location of fights on short notice. This digital layer of coordination, combined with relatively lenient penalties for animal cruelty in certain jurisdictions, has allowed such networks to persist despite the illegality of the practice under Brazilian law.
Alexandre Bertolucci's denial and the Aveiro family link
The investigation has drawn international attention due to the connection between Alexandre Bertolucci and the family of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Bertolucci is the partner of Katia Aveiro, the sister of the former international star, and the two share a young daughter. While Bertolucci's proprety was one of three raided, he has explicitly denied any involvement in the criminal activities associated with the cockfighting ring.
It is important to note that Cristiano Ronaldo himself is not a subject of this investigation. His name appears in the police files only because of his familial relationship to Katia Aveiro. The raids were triggered by specific tip-offs regarding the breeding and training of animals,rather than a broader probe into the Aveiro family's finances or associations.
Who coordinated the WhatsApp groups and the missing arrests?
Despite the seizure of a gun, cell phones, and various documents at multiple locations, no arrests have been made thus far. A significant hurdle in transparency is Brazil's Abuse of Authority Law, which prevents officials from disclosing the identities of those currently under investigation. this leaves several critical questions unanswered: who are the other owners of the raided properties, and who managed the WhatsApp groups used to coordinate the fights?
Furthermore, the origin of the 1,500 Mura roosters remains unverified. Investigators have yet to clarify whether these birds were bred on-site or trafficked from other regions of Brazil. Until the documents and phones seized during the raids are fully analyzed, the full extent of the criminal organization and the specific role of Alexandre Bertolucci remain speculative.
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