SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Six children from the Sacramento, Redding, Chico and Vallejo areas being forced to work as prostitutes have been rescued, according to the FBI.

The operation took place between June 19-23 and also resulted in the arrest of six pimps, according to agency spokesperson Gina Swankie. It was part of a national campaign called “Operation Cross Country.” In addition to the FBI, several law enforcement organizations from Northern California took part on the operation.

The FBI says this recovery was one of the largest in the nation.

Since the first Operation Cross County in June 2008, multi-agency teams in the Sacramento division’s area of responsibility have recovered 23 children and arrested 18 pimps, the FBI said.