The New York City Police Department rescued 43 people from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in nearby New Jersey, highlighting what law enforcement officials say is a nationwide effort to combat criminals who prey on major sporting events.

The NYPD’s Special Victims Unit said 43 trafficking victims, including seven minors, were rescued between June 11 and July 19 as detectives carried out 87 targeted operations surrounding FIFA World Cup matches held in the New York metropolitan area.

Authorities arrested 89 suspects accused of operating human trafficking rings, with many of the victims identified as being exploited through sex trafficking.

“The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners,” said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, CBS News reported.

Marcus said detectives spent years preparing for the World Cup, including conducting compliance checks on known human traffickers and registered sex offenders before the tournament began.

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