SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO ANNOUNCES AN UPCOMING 15TH CRIME SUPPRESSION OPERATION
14TH OPERATION SO FAR YIELDS 64 ARRESTS, OVER 900 POUNDS OF DRUGS
Operation Continues Tonight Concentrating on More Illegal Immigration, Drug Violators, and Other Crimes.
Phoenix, AZ - Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio today announced plans for the next crime suppression operation - the 15th - to focus on the growing problem of illegal alien drop houses and drug violators inside the city of Phoenix.
According to Arpaio, 14th crime suppression/illegal immigration operation is well into its second full day. In the first day, already 64 people have been taken into custody for drug violations, illegal immigration crimes and other criminal violations. Of those, 47 have been determined to be illegal aliens. Twenty of them were turned over to (ICE) Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and 27 illegals were booked on state charges.
Today nearly 600 pounds of marijuana were confiscated in Mesa. Coupled with the 275 pounds of marijuana found yesterday, a total of nearly 900 pounds of marijuana were seized. During the operation yesterday, nearly five pounds of meth were found. Eight drug traffickers were arrested and four were determined to be illegal aliens.
During this operation, the Sheriff has mobilized over 400 personnel, including - for the first time - patrol deputies who are now receiving training to enforce illegal immigration laws, as well as volunteer posse and reserves. Arpaio’s air posse and helicopters were also used as more occupants of load vehicles stopped by law enforcement are fleeing the scene of the crime, often avoiding capture.
In the three load vehicles stopped yesterday, Sheriff’s deputies found 33 occupants. Of those, two of occupants fled and are at large. The remaining 29 were taken into custody for human smuggling violations.
Arpaio recently ordered that all 900 sworn deputies be properly trained to enforce illegal immigration laws, a move made necessary after the recent decision by Department of Homeland Security to take away the federal authority of 100 deputies, all of whom had been formally trained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to enforce federal immigration laws.
"They took away the ability of 100 federally trained deputies to enforce immigration laws and so I replaced them with 900 sworn deputies, all of whom are now in a position to enforce illegal immigration laws in Maricopa County," Arpaio said.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Press Release
