163 Missing Florida Kids Rescued, 3 Arrested During Operation Statewide Shield
- On Tuesday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the recovery of 163 missing children during Operation Statewide Shield, a first-of-its-kind, four-and-a-half-day state agency-led initiative.
- Spanning 6 states, Puerto Rico, and 12 countries, the multi-agency operation utilized strategies from federal models including Operations Dragon Eye and Home for the Holidays to locate vulnerable youth.
- Children ranging from 2 months to 17 years old received immediate care at designated hubs, with Tampa Bay leading regional recoveries at 46 children, followed by Miami with 41.
- Officials confirmed at least 3 arrests for offenses including lewd acts with a minor and interference with child custody, with investigators expecting additional charges as probes continue.
- State Rep. Danny Alvarez warned predators that authorities will continue pursuing abusers, while Uthmeier noted his office has recovered more than 400 children since taking office.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Fla. officials: In ‘largest missing child recovery initiative’ in state history, 163 missing children rescued and recovered
In the largest missing child recovery initiative in state history, Florida authorities announced the successful rescue and recovery of 163 missing children through a coordinated global law enforcement sweep known as Operation Statewide Shield.
Florida authorities rescued 163 missing or at risk of trafficking and other abuses in a massive international operation.
The investigation involved agencies from several U.S. states and cooperation from a dozen countries, with several arrests
Florida authorities have reported this Tuesday on the rescue of 163 children and young people who were missing or under human trafficking or abuse during a five-day international operation, involving twelve countries, including Spain and Mexico. So far, three people have been arrested in relation to these cases and it is expected that there will be “more arrests in the next few days,” according to the State Attorney's office.
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