Immigration and Customs officials have arrested 29 people on charges of forcing Mexican and Central American women into prostitution after aiding them in illegally entering the U.S.

According to Fox News, the women were smuggled into the southeastern part of the country and thus far authorities have been able to identify 15 victims, including a 15-year-old girl found in a brothel.

Overall, the probe dubbed "Operation Safe Haven" has led to arrests in 13 cities and could result in potential sentences ranging from a fine of $250,000 to life imprisonment.

The investigation has spanned 15 months and commenced in July 2014 when Homeland Security Investigators detected a loosely organized network of people across Georgia known for dealing in the sex-trafficking of immigrants.

Besides Georgia, others states believed to have been involved include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

"This investigation identified women victimized through fraud, force and coercion, including underage teens," said Atlanta-based HSI agent Nick S. Annan. "To the criminals behind these illegal enterprises, these women are just pieces of meat used to pull a quick profit and then discarded or passed on to the next trafficker down the line."

The women are now under the protection of the U.S. government and will be allowed to remain in the U.S. while criminal proceedings continue. In addition, they are now eligible to apply for the T-visas provided for victims of trafficking who collaborate with the justice system. They are also allowed to stay in the country for three years before applying for a Green Card for permanent residence.

The ongoing criminal investigation is now under the auspices of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

A 2014 report found that 80 percent of all females crossing into the U.S. via the Mexican border are raped over the course of their journey.