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In a significant law enforcement initiative, authorities in Florida have successfully located and recovered more than a hundred missing or endangered children throughout the state.
Dubbed “Operation Home for the Holidays,” this extensive two-week effort resulted in the rescue of 122 children, ranging in age from just 23 months to 17 years. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced this remarkable achievement at a press conference on Monday, describing it as one of the largest operations of its kind ever conducted in the United States.
“This is the essence of our mission. In Florida, our priority is clear: safeguarding our children, ensuring their safety, and shielding them from exploitation and harm,” Uthmeier emphasized to the gathered media.
The operation saw collaboration between various state and local law enforcement agencies and the US Marshals, who together managed to locate children across several regions: 57 in Tampa Bay, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers, according to Uthmeier’s press statement.
Additionally, the operation extended beyond Florida’s borders, resulting in child recoveries in nine other states, although the specific numbers from those states have not yet been disclosed.
Many of the children experienced some form of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or exposure to criminal activity, authorities said.
Six people were arrested over the course of the massive law enforcement effort, Uthmeier added.
Officials did not release the identities of those individuals during the media briefing, but some have been charged with felonies, including crimes involving sexual battery on a child and custodial interference.
“Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
Operation “Home for the Holidays” utilized real-time intelligence and field operations to locate the slew of missing children, officials said.
Victim advocates and child welfare specialists also coordinated with law enforcement to give the children access to resources upon their rescue.
“The United States Marshals Service is proud to stand with our partners across the state of Florida in pursuit of the safety and welfare of our children,” United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida Bill Berger said in a statement.
“This operation was built based upon the wants and needs of our communities. We are honored to play a leading role in answering those calls,” Berger said.