(Ron Hosko, Assistant Director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division)

The undercover operation, known as Operation Cross Country, culminated in an organized three-day sweep in 76 American cities and involved 230 law enforcement units, according to the FBI.

Of the 105 children rescued, almost all were girls about 13 to 17-years-old.

The largest numbers of children rescued were in San Francisco, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver and New Orleans. The campaign, known as Operation Cross Country, was conducted under the FBI’s Innocence Lost initiative, according to the Boston Globe.

Almost 20 alleged pimps were arrested in Detroit, said USA Today.

"Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across the country," Ron Hosko, assistant director of the bureau’s criminal investigative division, told a press conference. "This operation serves as a reminder that these abhorrent crimes can happen anywhere and that the FBI remains committed to stopping this cycle of victimization and holding the criminals who profit from this exploitation accountable."

He noted that a prime environment for prostitution activity, including child prostitution, is major sporting events.

The FBI said the campaign has resulted in rescuing 2,700 children since 2003, but this operation was the largest sweep to date.

CNN said it included 28 searches with 129 seizures of cash, drugs, vehicles and firearm.

The Justice Department has estimated that nearly 450,000 children run away from home each year and that one-third of teens living on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

Hosko said the children, generally recruited from foster care or group homes, were being offered up on Internet sites, at truck stops, casinos and street corners.

Forty-seven FBI divisions took part in Operation Cross Country VII, along with more than 3,900 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers and agents representing 230 separate agencies.