Operation Dragon Eye: 60 Critically Missing Children Rescued in Historic U.S. Marshals Operation

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – In what officials have hailed as the most successful child recovery operation in U.S. history, 60 critically missing children were rescued in Florida’s Tampa Bay area as part of “Operation Dragon Eye.” The operation, led by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for the Central District of Florida, was announced at a press conference on June 23 by Florida State Attorney James Uthmeier and U.S. Marshal William Berger.

The two-week initiative brought together 20 federal, state, and local agencies and resulted in the arrests of eight individuals on charges including human trafficking, child endangerment, drug possession, and drug trafficking. The children, ranging from ages 9 to 17, were recovered from Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. According to officials, 69% of the children were missing from their communities and 31% from foster care.

“This is the most successful missing child recovery effort in the history of the United States Marshals Service—or to my knowledge, any other similar operation held in the United States,” Berger said. He praised the law enforcement teams for their dedication and noted that each child was provided with physical and psychological care as well as follow-up services to help prevent future victimization.

Operation Dragon Eye aimed to recover missing children at heightened risk due to factors such as exposure to violence, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, or domestic violence. In addition to recovering the children, officials said the operation sought to provide essential services and deter criminals exploiting vulnerable youth.

Florida Attorney General Uthmeier emphasized the gravity of the mission: “If you victimize children, you’re going to prison—end of story. Protecting our children is my top priority, both as Attorney General and as a father.”

The success of the operation was credited to unprecedented cooperation between agencies, including the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Department of Children and Families, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Tampa Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, St. Petersburg Police Department, and several nonprofit organizations.

“The success of Operation Dragon Eye is a testament to what’s possible when agencies unite with a shared mission to protect children,” said Callahan Walsh, executive director of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Officials noted that since the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, the U.S. Marshals Service has located or recovered more than 3,967 missing children nationwide, achieving recovery in 66% of cases, often within a week.

Operation Dragon Eye follows other major joint efforts such as “Operation Showdown” in Texas, which recently netted 76 arrests and the seizure of firearms and narcotics.

Authorities say the eight suspects arrested in connection with Operation Dragon Eye are facing bonds ranging from no bond to $250 million. The investigation underscored both the scale of child trafficking threats and the power of coordinated action in protecting vulnerable youth.

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