Dozens of missing children were rescued and eight suspects were arrested in a massive operation in the Tampa Bay area, Florida officials said.
At a news conference Monday morning, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and U.S. Marshal William Berger announced that 60 missing children in Central Florida were rescued as part of “Operation Dragon Eye.”
Additionally, eight defendants were arrested on charges including human trafficking, child endangerment, drug possession and drug trafficking.
“The real heroes behind this operation are the law enforcement who built and executed this mission. As your Attorney General and a father of three young kids, protecting children is my top priority,” Uthmeier said. “If you victimize children, you’re going to prison, end of story.”
The operation was spearheaded by the U.S. Marshal’s Office with legal counsel provided by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, including assistance from 20 agencies.
The children missing were aged ranging from 9 years old to 17 years old.
Once rescued, the children were debriefed and provided with physical and psychological care, according to U.S. Marshal William Berger.
“60 kids saved. That number sends the message that Florida will never be a safe place for traffickers,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass. “At FDLE, we will continue to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. And to any family still missing their child, we will never stop searching until we make sure they are brought home safely.”
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