Dozens of children were rescued in a blow to child sex trafficking operations in Florida, officials announced Monday.
The US Marshals Office for the Central District of Florida led Operation Dragon Eye, which was supported by State Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP).
The effort involves 20 agencies working together to find 60 critically missing children and apprehend suspects linked to trafficking, drugs, and child endangerment.
“The real heroes behind this operation are the law enforcement who built and executed this mission,” Uthmeier said in a release.
“As your Attorney General and a father of three young kids, protecting children is my top priority. If you victimize children, you’re going to prison, end of story.”
Authorities said the discovered children ranged in age from 9 to 17, with many of them missing and at risk of being exploited.
The US Marshal’s Service defines “critically missing” children to include “those at risk of crimes of violence or those with other elevated risk factors such as substance abuse, sexual exploitation, crime exposure, or domestic violence.”
The operation uncovered the horrifying facts of sex trafficking, including numerous young girls who were pregnant, one of whom was delivering her trafficker’s child.
Officials emphasized that the operation did not finish with their rescue; instead, each youngster received prompt medical assessments and psychological support, with long-term care standards put in place.
“The unique part of this operation was the fact that underaged critically missing children were not only recovered but were debriefed and provided with physical and psychological care,” said US Marshal William Berger.
“This operation further included follow-up assistance in hopes that these youths will not return back to the streets to be further victimized.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) also played a key role in the operation. Commissioner Mark Glass reassured the parents of missing children that the department would “never stop searching.”
“Sixty kids saved. That number sends the message that Florida will never be a safe place for traffickers,” Glass said.
“At FDLE, we will continue to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. And to any family still missing their child, we will never stop searching until we make sure they are brought home safely.”
The operation resulted in eight arrests, according to the agency.
They are facing several allegations, including human trafficking, child endangerment, narcotics possession, and drug trafficking. Authorities said the investigation is still underway, and additional charges may be filed.
The criminal matters are handled by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which is assisted by state attorneys from the Sixth and Thirteenth Judicial Circuits, respectively.
Special Counsel Rita Peters has been assigned to oversee the prosecution in the human trafficking case, while two further trafficking cases are still being investigated.
Sex trafficking remains a chronic problem in Florida, with the state ranking among the top three in the US for reported human trafficking cases, along with California and Texas, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
According to the organization, Florida received over 1,830 signals in 2024 alone, resulting in 1,874 victim identifications.
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) discovered that many victims are minors aged 11 to 17, who are frequently enticed through manipulation or internet platforms.
In response, Florida politicians have increased both financing and legislative measures. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently allocated $4.9 million to provide emergency shelter beds and staff support for trafficking victims, with an extra $900,000 in grant cash awarded to the FDLE.
