Sheriff Calls "Operation Desert Sky" a Success

Updated: Thursday, 31 Mar 2011, 5:47 PM MDT
Published : Thursday, 31 Mar 2011, 5:47 PM MDT

PHOENIX - Just days after Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced a plan to have posse members search for drugs by air, he's calling the mission a success.

On Monday, Sheriff Arpaio announced "Operation Desert Sky."

About 30 posse members volunteered their time and aircraft to help deputies patrol the desert.

On Thursday, Arpaio showed off the mission's haul so far: more than a ton of marijuana, 115 arrests.

Six of those arrests were illegal immigrants smuggling drugs.

"So it is a big problem when you talk about drugs (slash) illegal immigration, it's getting more connected every day," said Arpaio.

Of the 115 arrests, 80 of the suspects were illegal immigrants.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/cr ... -03312011#