PHOENIX -- During the 30 hours of operation, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Phoenix and Guadalupe crime suppression programs netted more than 150 arrests, including 73 illegal immigrants.

Sheriff's deputies and armed posse volunteers said 47 people taken into custody, nine of nine of those illegal immigrants, during the two-day Guadalupe crime sweep that began on Thursday.

Eighteen fugitives were apprehended on a variety of warrant charges, including drug possession and domestic violence, MCSO said. Nearly 30 warrants belonging to several Valley law enforcement agencies were cleared.

Recently, Arpaio launched posse saturations near Cave Creek and Bell roads and 32nd Street and Thomas Road, also a prime location for day laborers to gather, after business owners complained of rising crime.

The sheriff shook off taunts from protesters, at least one of whom had a sign supporting Dan Saban, who is challenging Arpaio in this fall's election.

Arpaio said of the protesters, "They're civil, they're making some derogatory remarks, but this is freedom of speech as long as they don't interfere with our operation. So we're going to continue to do our job."

He said as long as the protesters didn't interfere, "it doesn't bother me."

Arpaio said the operations are financed with $2 million provided by the state Legislature to hire 15 deputies to enforce immigration laws.

According to Arpaio, more crime suppression operations are on the horizon.