TAMPA, Fla. (BN24) — A major U.S. Marshals operation across Florida has led to the recovery or safe location of 60 critically missing children, federal officials announced Monday, marking what authorities called the most successful child recovery initiative in the agency’s history.
Dubbed Operation DRAGON EYE, the two-week campaign targeted the state’s most vulnerable missing youth and resulted in eight arrests, including individuals charged with human trafficking, child endangerment, narcotics possession, and custodial interference, according to the U.S. Marshals Service Middle District of Florida.
The operation, which covered Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties, was carried out by a multi-agency task force comprising federal, state and local law enforcement, social services, the medical community, and various non-governmental organizations. The recovered children, ranging in age from 9 to 17, were immediately provided with medical care, nourishment, trauma-informed counseling, and support from child advocates.
“These children were at the highest risk — victims of violence, trafficking, exploitation, and neglect,” said William Berger, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida. “While we celebrate their recovery, we remain deeply conscious of the trauma many have endured.”
Berger called the effort “the most successful missing child recovery operation in the history of the United States Marshals Service — or to my knowledge, any such operation in the country.” He emphasized that many of the recovered children will continue to receive follow-up services to support their long-term safety and recovery.
Authorities define “critically missing” as children deemed at elevated risk due to factors such as exposure to violent crime, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, or domestic violence. Some of the children located during the operation were victims of ongoing abuse or trafficking, officials said.
The effort was strongly supported by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which aided in recovery efforts and helped connect children with critical post-recovery services.
“The success of Operation DRAGON EYE is a testament to what’s possible when agencies unite with a shared mission to protect children,” said Callahan Walsh, executive director of NCMEC. “These recovered children now have a chance to reclaim their childhoods and futures.”
Law enforcement agencies involved say they hope to replicate this operation’s collaborative model in future child protection initiatives across the country.
