Mexican authorities say they have uncovered a child trafficking ring that allegedly smuggled some 100 Latin American children into the United States in the past year, for more than $1 million.

Police arrested three suspected ringleaders Thursday. Two female suspects who were taken into custody at Tijuana International Airport, near the US border, had six children with them. Investigators say the women raised suspicions after booking return flights to Mexico City without the youngsters.

After questioning the two suspects, authorities searched a house outside Mexico City and arrested the husband of one of the women. They also found at least five Salvadoran children living there under what they called "deplorable conditions."

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Salvadoran authorities are assisting in the case.

Mexican authorities say they do not know why the children were being smuggled into the United States, but they have not ruled out child pornography, organ trafficking or adoption-for-money schemes.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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