MANCHESTER, Conn. -- Authorities discovered a cockfighting ring during a drug bust in Manchester on Monday inside a house along a quiet country road that winds its way through farmland.

Manchester police said the animals were part of a cockfighting ring, an illegal sport in which the birds fight to the death and people bet on which rooster will win. Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Len Besthoff reported one of the animals has to be put down because of its ailing health.

"It's kind of a first for around here," Manchester police Sgt. Chris Davis said.

Officers seized $46,600 worth of heroin from Efrain Bracero on Monday. Authorities had arranged to meet with Bracero in a parking lot on Buckland Hills Drive at 5 p.m., and said he has in his possession 116 grams of raw heroin.

"That's a substantial quantity of heroin," Davis said. "It was a very good bust."

Bracero, 27, of West Hartford, remains held on $500,000 bond on heroin possession and intent to sell charges. He does not face any charges related to the cockfighting allegations.

Upon executing a search warrant of a house on Woodside Street in Manchester, from which authorities observed Bracero leaving shortly before his arrest, authorities discovered what they deemed to be a cockfighting ring.

"That's a substantial quantity of heroin. It was a very good bust." - Sgt. Chris Davis Manchester Police Department

Six months ago, police in Bloomfield arrested a person who they said raised 17 fighting roosters and 15 breeding hens in an unrelated case (Full Story). Investigators said it's hard to tell how widespread the illegal sport is in the state.

"I don't think they let a lot of outsiders in. So, it's kind of difficult to infiltrate this type of activity and to find out about it," Davis said.

Investigators said they seized suspected blood splatters, eight live gamecocks, hypodermic needles, bird supplements, fighting spurs, a scale to weigh the birds and two slot machines. Officers said they saw suspected blood splatters on the basement floor outside the ring.

Authorities seized the animals and suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia, including 4 ounces of suspected cocaine, 2 ounces of suspected marijuana, a scale, suspected drug balance sheets and $4,730 in cash.

Officers arrested the residents of the house, identified as Felix Martinez, 63, and Carmen Gomez, 46. Police charged both with numerous drug charges, eight counts of cruelty to animals and possession of a gambling device.

Martinez remains held on $750,00 bond and Gomez remains held on $500,000 bond. All three men are scheduled to appear in court on March 17.

If you have information regarding this or any other drug investigation in this area, you can confidentially contact the East Central Narcotics Task Force by dialing 860-645-5548.

In October, the state established a hot line for citizens to report illegal animal fighting (Full Story). The attorney general's office announced a national effort of state attorneys general to crack down on animal abuse and illegal animal fighting.

As part of this national effort, The Humane Society of the United States also announced the launch of a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in illegal animal fighting.

Animal fighting -- including dogfighting and cockfighting -- is a pervasive problem in Connecticut and throughout the country, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.

The Connecticut illegal animal fighting hot line number is 860-808-5180, and callers can remain anonymous.