3 illegal aliens caught with $2M of marijuana

After a week of investigating, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office drug suppression task force seized millions of dollars in marijuana.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says three illegal aliens were arrested after deputies found 3,500 pounds of marijuana being transported inside their vehicle.  The drugs are estimated to be worth $2 million, according to deputies.

Sheriff Arpaio says, "More and more illegal aliens are smuggling drugs into the country and it's getting increasingly dangerous for my deputies. This concern has prompted me to issue automatic weapons in the near future to all my deputies, including those detectives who work in the higher drug traffic areas like the desert in the near future."

The suspects, 41-year-old Melchicedec Nini-Cabrera, 49-year-old Eucario Salano-Nino and 30-year-old Jesus Ismael-Birgen, are all Mexican nationals.  They were booked into the 4th Avenue jail on felony charges of possession and transportation of marijuana.

This is a developing story.  Stay with FOX 10 News for updates.