Joe Arpaio Seizes Ton Of Pot, Blames 'Illegal Aliens'

Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Arizona's Maricopa County, put out a press release Tuesday after his deputies seized 2,094.5 pounds of marijuana. The suspects fled the pickup truck where the weed was found and no one was arrested, but Arpaio was quick to link the incident to "illegal aliens":

In this last month, Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies have now arrested more than 20 illegal aliens and seized nearly two tons of marijuana.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says, “Drug trafficking is increasing involving illegal aliens and I am preparing for another drug and illegal alien crime suppression operation.”

The truck's license plates were from Alberta, Canada, according to the Phoenix New Times. The paper asked the sheriff's office why undocumented workers featured so prominently in Arpaio's press release:

When asked about the sheriff's quote, MCSO spokesman Jeff Sprong tells New Times the majority of people arrested for transporting drugs in that area are also in the country illegally.

Arpaio is at the center of a Justice Department probe into charges of civil rights violations, including racial profiling, by his officers. He is also at the forefront of the birther movement, leading a posse of volunteers in an investigation into President Obama's birth certificate.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Papers Please]

09:49 AM on 05/10/2012

I'm not quite understanding the title of this story. Joe "blames" the pot bust on illegals? NOOOO, the pot bust was DEFINITELY perpetrated by illegals. Why the liberal spin on every story Huff?

[gibby1855]

10:34 AM on 04/20/2012

A sheriffs job should last 4- years tops, next, next, next

[Papers Please]

09:50 AM on 05/10/2012

It does. And Joe's been re-elected five times. Soon to be six

If it ain't broke don't fix it, America LOVES Joe.

[Cacaoatl]

09:43 PM on 04/19/2012

They were illegal aliens...from Canada apparently. Actually it doesn't matter where they were from, drug smugglers only give people what they want.

[Papers Please]

09:51 AM on 05/10/2012

Then liberals should probably stop using so many drugs.

[noonrock]

01:47 PM on 04/19/2012

He blamed "illegal aliens"? Well it certainly wasn't the mennonites or amish, and probably not the "legal" immigrants. Right?

[Hank1967]

09:16 PM on 04/19/2012

So what are you saying it came from Mexico, I am Shocked to hear that i am sure since we dont hear about it on the news anymore Mexico has all this under control on the other side of the border.

[Papers Please]

09:52 AM on 05/10/2012

Faved for common sense.

[Ziggy Hudson]

01:01 PM on 04/19/2012

From the tone of this Huffy reporting,I'm guessing that we are not being nice enough to drug smugglers. Are they supposed to be refered to as "undocumented accused felons" ? How about
"nice guys from down south that made a honest mistake"?

[edgraham]

02:54 PM on 04/19/2012

That is not the point of the story. Apraio is making up stuff to make the "undocumented accused felons" (your words) seem like a bigger problem than they might actually be...

His ends always justify his lies.

[Ziggy Hudson]

03:34 PM on 04/19/2012

Yeah....."a bigger problem then they might actually be" I guess you've been paying close attention,huh? Clueless..........

[Papers Please]

10:41 AM on 05/10/2012

If all else fails, READ THE STORY...

"In this last month, Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies have now arrested more than 20 illegal aliens and seized nearly two tons of marijuana."

[Hank1967]

09:19 PM on 04/19/2012

Your right but I am still trying to get past the illegals haling illegal stuff and we are whining about it.

[JoanMeijer]

11:02 AM on 04/19/2012

This guy has been at the center of a justice department probe FOREVER....when do they stop probing and start actually doing something about the problem?

[Ziggy Hudson]

01:02 PM on 04/19/2012

maybe because he's doing his job

[Hank1967]

09:21 PM on 04/19/2012

So what do you see the problem to be big momma, arresting people for doing illegal things? or is it the standard we don’t know what to charge him with so let’s call it profiling

[holmes49]

10:56 AM on 04/19/2012

who do you liberals think did it --little green men from mars? the smuglers WHERE illegals.

[RenaissancePartyTime]

11:46 AM on 04/19/2012

"WHERE"????? Learn to speak English, because I am sure you are the type to make claims that all immigrants must know the language before entrance to the US. Also, there are hundreds of thousands of LEGAL Americans involved in the drug trade.

[noonrock]

01:48 PM on 04/19/2012

SI!!!!

[Tomaniac]

11:58 AM on 04/19/2012

And the consumers of the cannabis are from where?

[Papers Please]

11:55 AM on 05/10/2012

Liberal America.

[dlaky17]

08:31 AM on 04/19/2012

When this guy croaks karma is going to take him to a Latino, Only Spanish Speaking plane of existence. That's gonna be his punishment from above.

[holmes49]

10:58 AM on 04/19/2012

whene you croak carma is going to take you to a muslim

[dlaky17]

08:22 PM on 04/19/2012

What, feeling a tad hot under the collar? Is that resentment cause I dissed your Papi Chulo? BTW, learn how to spell, whenecarmaneck.

[Ziggy Hudson]

01:14 PM on 04/19/2012

Yeah he's a nasty American doing what he was hired to do.He should be punished

[Hank1967]

09:25 PM on 04/19/2012

And dont you dare forget he is WHITE........

[ckava3]

08:12 AM on 04/19/2012

You got to luv the bias of Huff Post and Libs in general!! Instead of the headline reading "Sheriff Joe seizes 2 Tons Of Pot" it's "Sheriff Joe seizes 2 Tons Of Pot & BLAMES ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!"
I was actually confused for a second, then I remembered you Liberals think millions of illegals coming into this country & living is perfectly ok. You want to crucify anyone who uses a gun, our constitutional right, but it's fine to let our country be overrun by illegal immigrants. Which is NOT their constitutional right.

[Josh Navarrete]

09:55 AM on 04/19/2012

Wow, so by your logic Lib's are the reason for all our problems. You are the epitome of what is wrong with this country. There are many people both legal and not, both rich and poor, and both Lib and Con that have to blame for this issue.

Dems think these undocumented people should be given a chance.

Cons think these undocumented people should be used for their cheap labor and then when they get what they want they kick them out.

See, both sides are to blame just for different reasons. But this would require you to turn of FOX News and turn on your brains logic and reason skills.

[Hank1967]

09:29 PM on 04/19/2012

Hay can we agree there needs to be a better FENCE? What do you think my Liberal friend.

[ckava3]

03:32 AM on 04/21/2012

You're welcome to your opinion. But based on your 3rd paragraph, I see you've got a very flawed view of conservatives. . .And I certainly don't blame everything on Liberals. Conservatives, as well as myself are far from 'perfect'.

[JoanMeijer]

11:06 AM on 04/19/2012

What have libs got to do with a sheriff who dresses prisoners in pink underwear? I don't think libs love and support illegal aliens any more than anyone else does...however they don't want them tortured and they do want true legislation that deals with the problem instead of shoving them into conservative-owned for profit prisons that you and I have to pay for....and no one wants to crucify people who use guns as long as they don't use them on other people.... You are a very confused person....

[Hank1967]

09:31 PM on 04/19/2012

YO big Momma, "tortured" Get a BIG grip on yourself

[ckava3]

04:00 AM on 04/21/2012

You don't think Libs love to support illegals any more than anyone else?? Exhibit A, is this article!! We already have laws in place to deal with illegals, and they are NOT enforced. Exhibit B, is the state of AZ having to make their own laws to deal with the problem. . .As far as 'putting them in prison', where did that come from?? It's my understanding they are simply deported. And exactly does conservatism have to do with prisons anyway!? I think the confusion is on your part. You've clearly stated some outright lies, or you're rather ignorant on these subjects.

[James Greybush]

02:07 AM on 04/19/2012

if it wasn't the illegals then who? lets go down the list:
1. American citizens growing weed and taking it down to mexico then back north? NO
2. A truckload from CA (where it is legal) took a wrong turn and ended up AZ south? NO
3. Citizens went to mexico bought a ton of weed and walked it back thru the desert? NO
4. Aliens from jupiter dropped it here as a symbol of peace? NO
5. A van from Canada didnt think it was a challenge going across northern border so he drove down to mexico and tried coming back up? Canadian plates.... hmmm NO
6. Illegal aliens sneaking drugs across our border? DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER.

[Recall Walker]

05:56 AM on 04/19/2012

Who cares if the drug traffickers are undocumented. That is irrelevant. The fact is that we as a nation consume illegal drugs greater than any other nation. That is why there is a supply. No one I'd forcing the drugs on us, we are buying them in massive quantities. Doesn't matter who is selling them.

Arpaio is an idiot whose only mantra is "the illegal alien." this has led him to violate civil rights and cause the needless death of people in his custody. He is no better than the traffickers in my book. He's a criminal too. Can't wait to see him behind bars. I'm sure he'll make plenty of friends in custody, legal or not.

[ckava3]

07:56 AM on 04/19/2012

Well said.

[Carl Crooks]

12:51 AM on 04/19/2012

At least he's doing one thing good...Keeping poorly grown marijuana out of our country!!!,Mexico is too dry to grow good weed and always comes out harsh,airy and dry.....LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!..#OPCANNABIS 4/20/12!!!!!!!

[LibbyMe]

10:03 PM on 04/18/2012

OMG! Did he say which planet the aliens came from.

[ckava3]

07:57 AM on 04/19/2012

I believe that 'planet' would be Mexico.

[Hank1967]

09:34 PM on 04/19/2012

That is funny

[bob haschat]

09:46 PM on 04/18/2012

After a quick look at the license plate it was concluded that it could be none other than illegal aliens....the crack investigative team took a picture of the license plate with a $35 Polaroid...the picture was aired out by crazy joe..and upon looking at it he confirmed that it was Mexicans...he immediately requested a budget increase of $1,000,000 from jan brewer to investigate the status of their birth certificates because they could have been produced by the same high profile forger that forged Obamas short, and long form birth certificates....he requested another $5,000,000 from govna brewer to build a time machine to go back in time to catch the forgers who also travelled back in time to place a birth announcement in Hawaii so that one day...a foreign outsider could seize control of our government manchurian candidate style to ruin this country in such fashion as to make the bush recession look like progress...yeah that's it

[Willow712]

02:21 PM on 04/19/2012

Yes, back in the 60s, when a biracial baby was born with the name of Barack Hussein Obama, who was going to grow up to be President someday. Anybody growing up in the 60s would know how logical that one would be.

[Hank1967]

09:36 PM on 04/19/2012

Obviously some dope made it through enjoy…..

[Dham4201]

09:29 PM on 04/18/2012

Is he wrong? Can't be sure at this time.

Does he have a point? Yes, people who are not citizens are involved in drug running around the border.

Does this reflect on all 11+ million "illegals" in the US? No.

Are the immigration and drug war issues, though slightly related, the same issue? No

Is Joe confused and eventually going to get what is coming to him? Yes

[Dan Dolan]

07:05 PM on 04/18/2012

2,000 lbs is NOTHING. MINISCULE.