Maricopa County sheriff’s operation nets 102 arrests, nearly $6 million in drugs
Mar 3, 2016, 7:26 PM
Source: MCSO Facebook
PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office says a large-scale drug operation has resulted in more than 100 arrests and the seizure of hundreds of pounds of drugs.
Sheriff’s officials say the operation began last September and targeted street-level dealers.
“We seized 53 pounds of heroin, which is a very, very large seizure no matter where it is,” said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. “Ninety-three pounds of methamphetamine, about 1700 pounds of marijuana, six pounds of cocaine.”
They say the amount of seized drugs total nearly $6 million in street value.
Arpaio held a news conference Thursday, standing against a background of piles of seized meth, heroin, marijuana and cocaine.
Authorities say the seized heroin has a street value of almost $1.7 million and the meth valued at close to $3 million.
Of the 102 people arrested, sheriff’s officials say 81 had previous felony and misdemeanor arrests for various crimes.
“Don’t see much attention given to the drug problem in Mexico, everybody talks about illegal immigration,” Arpaio said. “When you talk about closing the border, or getting tough at the border it always seems to be illegal immigration.
“Why isn’t everybody talking about the drug traffic coming across the border,” he added. “I don’t see much emphasis on that problem.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
