Endangered and Missing Children rescued in Florida

Children Rescued, Eight Arrested in Two-Week Crackdown

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday announced Operation Dragon Eye — a sweeping, two-week child trafficking operation that state officials are calling the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

The initiative led to the rescue of 60 children between the ages of 9 and 17, many of whom were victims of extreme violence and exploitation. Eight suspects now face charges including human trafficking, child endangerment, drug trafficking, and related felonies. In at least one case, bond was set at $250 million.

In tandem with Dragon Eye, the National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF) led a three-day mission in Northeast Florida, dubbed a “targeted sweep.” That effort rescued 25 missing or endangered children aged 7 to 17 across six counties: Clay, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Putnam, and Flagler.

Federal authorities say Operation Dragon Eye focused on finding missing children ages 9-17 from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties over a two-week period. Twenty agencies and more than 100 people were involved, according to officials.

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