( CNN ) -- Authorities in Arizona have arrested three employees of a sheriff 's office known for its tough stand on illegal immigration , accusing them of aiding human traffickers and drug smugglers . A sheriff 's deputy and two detention officers were among 12 people arrested in an operation Tuesday , Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said . `` That a deputy sheriff would provide information and associate with these drug and human traffickers is despicable , '' Arpaio told reporters . Deputy Alfredo Navarrette , who had been a member of a unit targeting human smuggling , faces felony charges connected to human smuggling , money laundering and participating in a crime syndicate , Arpaio said . `` He admitted actually going to our command centers to obtain information to pass on to the drug traffickers and the smugglers , '' Arpaio said , noting that authorities found two illegal immigrants in Navarrette 's home when they served a search warrant Tuesday morning . The two detention officers who were arrested -- Sylvia Najera and Marcella Hernandez -- are accused of money laundering and having connections with drug-trafficking organizations . Hernandez had more than $ 16,000 in her purse when she was taken into custody , Arpaio said . Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery praised the sheriff 's office for its handling of the matter and pledged to hold the officers accountable . `` This was n't swept under the rug . The cooperation that we received from the sheriff 's office was complete and forthright , '' he told reporters . `` No one 's above the law , and apparently no one is beyond the reach of drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico , '' he added . Arpaio drew national attention and earned the nickname of `` America 's toughest sheriff '' for his stance on illegal immigration , among other things . Many of his prisoners are housed in tents and forced to wear pink underwear , and he once boasted of feeding them on less than a dollar a day per prisoner . He faces a U.S. Justice Department investigation into whether his policies cracking down on illegal immigrants discriminate against Hispanics . Earlier this month critics called for his resignation after an audit found he used nearly $ 100 million designated for jail funds to pay deputies ' salaries . Some activists said Tuesday 's arrests are part of a public-relations ploy to clean up the sheriff 's office image in the wake of such accusations . `` Now he 's saying that he 's cleaning out his department , but frankly , these problems have always existed inside the agency , '' human rights activist Lydia Guzman told CNN affiliate KTVW .
A deputy who was part of a unit targeting human smuggling is accused . Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio calls the alleged connections `` despicable '' A detention officer had $ 16,000 in her purse when she was arrested , Arpaio says . Critics recently called for Arpaio 's resignation after a government audit of his agency .