Six people were arrested this week in a human-smuggling operation based in Los Angeles that involved thousands of illegal immigrants held in horrid conditions. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement culminated a three-year investigation that began when police found about 140 illegal immigrants locked inside two “drop houses” in South Los Angeles reports the Daily News.

“We believe this ring was probably bringing 100 aliens a week into the L.A. area,” ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said. “You’re looking at a lot of people - and a lot of money.”

Agents said the three ringleaders are all named Francisco and worked only in the U.S., picking up immigrants they called “pollos” - Spanish for chickens - who had crossed the border into Arizona. The “pollo books” were seized in raids on Wednesday and show the ring charged clients $1,200 to $3,700 each for transportation to cities across the U.S., according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

Read it here: Human-trafficking ring hit, Agents say