Federal agents rescued more than a dozen teenagers who had been brought to the New York area to solicit sex to Super Bowl attendees.
16 young people between the ages of 13 and 17 were reportedly sent to the tri-state area by their pimps, according to a statement released by the FBI.
Some of the victims were allegedly brought to the United States from other countries, while others had been reported missing by their families, according to the New York Daily News.
"High-profile special events, which draw large crowds, have become lucrative opportunities for child prostitution criminal enterprises," assistant director for the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division Ron Hosko told the Daily News.
Over 45 pimps and their accomplices were busted in the sting. The FBI reportedly was running a six-month-long investigation into the human trafficking case with at least 50 other law enforcement agencies.
Officials cracked down on human traffickers at this year's Super Bowl, with extra eyes on the ground and online.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie cautioned people ahead of the game that anyone caught participating in unlawful acts would be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law."
"We're committed to this fight, especially this week," Christie said of human trafficking, which reportedly spikes in numbers during large events like the Super Bowl.
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