The former longtime chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) and his partner have been arrested and charged with running a prostitution and international sex trafficking business.

According to the FBI and federal prosecutors, Mike Jeffries along with two others were arrested Tuesday as part of a criminal investigation into the alleged sex trafficking of more than a dozen victims, according to the FBI and federal prosecutors.

Jeffries; his partner, Matt Smith; and their alleged middle man, Jim Jacobson, are accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution business that recruited young men for parties in the U.S. and abroad, according to a 16-count indictment.

Federal prosecutorshave said that the men used force, fraud and coercion to engage in “violent and exploitive” sexual acts.

The BBC reports: The FBI opened an investigation last year after the BBC revealed claims that Mike Jeffries and his partner sexually exploited and abused men at events they hosted in their New York residences and hotels around the world.

The BBC investigation found that there was a sophisticated operation involving a middleman and a network of recruiters tasked with finding men for these events.

On Tuesday, US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, alleged that Mr Jeffries used his wealth, power and status as CEO of A&F “to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure” and for the pleasure of his partner, Mr Smith.

Outlining prosecutors’ accusations, Mr Peace alleged the couple employed Mr Jacobson as their recruiter who would conduct “tryouts” with men from across the globe by engaging them in sex acts in exchange for money.

Once Mr Jeffries approved of the men, they would be flown to his New York home where they were “pressured to consume alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants”, Mr Peace claimed.

Prosecutors further alleged that Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith directed others or personally “injected men with an erection inducing substance” when they were incapable or unwilling to participate.

The ex-CEO “spent millions of dollars on a massive infrastucture to support this operation and maintain its secrecy”, prosecutors said, which included international travel, hotel stays, paid staff and security for the events.

Prosecutors said there were 15 victims mentioned in the indictment but alleged that the operation “encompassed dozens and dozens of men”.

After a court appearance on Tuesday, Mr Jeffries was released on a $10m (£7.7m) bond, while Mr Jacobson was released on a $500,000 bond. They are next due in court on Friday.

Mr Smith was ordered detained.