Striking a decisive blow against child exploitation, the U.S. Marshals Service led Operation Dragon Eye, making history by successfully recovering 60 missing children.
Scroll to see the video below this post.
This operation brought together over 20 law enforcement agencies in a two-week mission that not only recovered these vulnerable youth but also arrested eight suspects involved in exploiting them.
The U.S. Marshals Service led the massive operation throughout the Tampa Bay area, working with local law enforcement agencies in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and St. Petersburg, Florida.
This cooperative effort involved more than 100 personnel who worked tirelessly to locate children as young as 9 years old who had fallen victim to dangerous situations.
“This is what it’s all about. This is why we do the job,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier.
“Many of these kids have been through painful disastrous situations but, at least today, we’ve rescued them, and we now can work towards recovery,” he added.
William Berger, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida, could barely contain his pride in the operation’s success, stating,
“I have to curtail my enthusiasm because of the sensitivity of the victims involved in this operation, but the successful recovery of 60 missing children, complemented with the arrest of eight individuals, including child predators, signifies 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.”
Many of the recovered children had been living in dangerous conditions, often exchanging their safety for basic necessities like food and shelter.
More than half had previous involvement with the juvenile justice system, and many were in the foster care system or had run away multiple times, making them particularly vulnerable to predators.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials made it clear that this operation was not just about finding missing children but also about bringing justice to those who exploit them.
The eight arrests included charges of human trafficking, child endangerment, narcotics possession, and custodial interference.
What sets Operation Dragon Eye apart from previous rescue efforts is its comprehensive approach to recovery.
The U.S. Marshals Service partnered with multiple government agencies to conduct "Operation Dragon-Eye," the most successful missing child recovery operation in the agency's history.
More: https://t.co/7pkvifWXwq @WFLA pic.twitter.com/4PXrPeJUZ9— NewsNation (@NewsNation) June 24, 2025
The operation included physical and psychological care for rescued children and follow-up assistance to prevent them from returning to dangerous environments.
This strategy recognizes that simply finding missing children is not enough – they need ongoing support to break the cycle of exploitation.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children also supported the operation.
Executive Director Callahan Walsh emphasized the importance of such collaborative efforts: “The success of Operation DRAGON EYE is a testament to what’s possible when agencies unite with a shared mission to protect children.”
This successful operation demonstrates that when law enforcement agencies are properly empowered and work together with a clear mission, they can make significant progress in protecting the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
This historic performance in Florida should serve as a model for similar operations nationwide in the ongoing battle against child exploitation and trafficking.
