Authorities locate 60 'critically missing' children in Florida operation: U.S. Marshals

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The United States Marshals Service (USMS) partnered with multiple federal, state, and local government agencies to conduct what the Service called the most successful missing child recovery operation in USMS history.

Operation Dragon Eye was a two-week initiative designed to recover or safely locate the most critically missing youth across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties, USMS said.

Sixty critically missing children were recovered or safely located as part of the operation, authorities said.

"The unique part of this operation was the fact that underaged critically missing children ranging from age 9 to 17 were not only recovered but were debriefed and provided with physical and psychological care. This operation further included follow-up assistance in hopes that these youth will not return back to the streets to be further victimized," William Berger, the United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida, said.

According to USMS, "critically missing" children are those who are at risk of crimes of violence or those with other elevated risk factors like substance abuse, sexual exploitation, crime exposure, or domestic violence.

"Operation Dragon Eye was much more than a U.S. Marshals Service operation; it was a community initiative," said U.S. Marshals Service Deputy in Charge Mario Price. This operation had three primary objectives: recover critically missing youth, provide them with essential services including appropriate placement, and to deter bad actors exploiting missing child vulnerabilities.

In addition to recovering missing children, the operation also arrested eight people with charges that included: human trafficking, child endangerment, narcotics possession, and custodial interference.

According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, officers located 11 missing juveniles and arrested two people, one with human trafficking.

"This operation is a powerful example of the importance of collaboration," said Tampa Police Department Chief Lee Bercaw. "These arrests and recoveries serve as a reminder of the Tampa Police Department's commitment to fight to protect our most vulnerable."