by Jason Pacini - Jan. 27, 2011 05:30 PM
The Arizona Republic


The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office launched a crime-suppression sweep Thursday with nearly 200 deputies and volunteers targeting human smuggling, drophouses and illegal drugs across the Phoenix area, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Thursday.

A spike in human-smuggling arrests in January by patrol deputies prompted the Sheriff's Office to launch the 18th crime-suppression operation, Arpaio said. The office's newly formed Illegal Immigration Enforcement Posse plans to join in the sweep.

Undercover surveillance led to the arrest of 56 suspected illegal immigrants in the days preceding the launch of the sweep. So far Thursday, the sweep has led to 13 arrests on suspicion of human-smuggling violations.

Volunteers, including actor Steven Seagal, will sweep the entire Valley for the two 10-hour days.



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