Massive Florida operation successfully rescues 60 "critically missing" children and arrests eight suspects with help from 20 different agencies.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said that a two-week, multi-agency operation recovered the victims from Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. The children were said to range from age nine to 17 and were given physical and psychological care, nourishment, social services, and child advocates.
Operation Dragon Eye
The sting, known as Operation Dragon Eye, took place from June 2 to June 13, where one of the arrests made included a human trafficking charge. Other charges against the suspects include child endangerment, narcotics possession, and custodial interference.
Uthmeier also called the massive operation the "largest child rescue operation, not just in Florida's history, but in United States history." he added that many of the children who were rescued went through painful situations but can now work on recovery.
U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida William Berger said the suspects were given bonds that range from none up to $250 million. The task force was led by the Marshals Service and involved more than 100 personnel from law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels, social service entities, non-government organizations, and the medical community, according to WUSF.
Rescuing "Critically Missing" Children
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said that they were able to recover 11 of the children and arrest two of the suspects, one of whom is facing a human trafficking charge. He added that the operation shows that they are serious about finding missing children and bringing them home safely.
There were also six detectives from the Tampa Police Department's Special Victims Unit who helped those involved in the operation. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said that each recovery and arrest made was more than just a number, as they remind them of their shared commitment to protecting the "most vulnerable among us," NBC Miami reported
Uthmeier said that his top priority is protecting children and sending criminals who target youths to prison. The attorney general noted that the real heroes were the personnel who were involved in the operation.
The operation was able to uncover the tragic realities of sex trafficking, as young girls were found to be pregnant, one of whom was carrying the child of one trafficker. Berger added that the unique part of the sting was that the victims were rescued and then provided with physical and psychological care, as per Fox News.
