Madera police arrested five suspects in connection with prostitution and human trafficking.
The Madera Police Department had been conducting surveillance on a home on Tulare Street.
The investigation revealed that women from South America were apparently being moved to various homes throughout the state so they could avoid detection.
Commander Dino Lawson with the Madera Police Department said, "What they did is they would have the women go to local swap meets in the area and hand out business cards with the address that they were at and inviting the male customer to show up at that residence later."
Investigators say the people running the ring would threaten the lives of family members in native countries to keep the women from leaving.
Five people are now in custody.