Venezuela's attorney general Tarek William Saab speaks during a press conference on the progress of the fight against human trafficking at the Public Ministry headquarters, in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sept. 12, 2018. Venezuela has smashed a human trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution, the country's attorney general Tarek William Saab said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Juan Carlos La Cruz/AVN)

CARACAS, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela has smashed a human trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution, the country's attorney general Tarek William Saab said on Wednesday.

A total of 28 people, 15 women and 13 men, were arrested on charges of human trafficking, criminal association, illegally carrying firearms, resisting authorities, graft and pornography, Saab said.

The investigation into the ring began on Aug. 31, 2017 and the ring worked in Caracas and the western state of Merida, Saab said during a press conference.

"They would forcefully take the women, including minors, and force them into prostitution," he said.

"This is the first time that we have had a ring of this size and we will pursue any Venezuelan citizen or those of other nationalities, who are taking our women and turning them into slaves," he said.

So for this year, 99 people have been charged with crimes related to human trafficking, and 71 have been detained, he added.

"These crimes will not go unpunished and this very serious offenses will receive the full weight of the law," Saab said.