The U.S. Marshals Service and multiple law enforcement agencies jointly carried out Operation Dragon Eye to find 60 missing children in Florida; the Marshals Service said that this was the “most successful” missing children search operation in American history.
The Hill reported on the 24th that the Marshals Service issued a statement on the 20th saying that the two-week Operation Dragon Eye aims to safely find the “most critically ill” missing teenagers in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, and 60 people have been found so far.
William Berger, director of the Central Florida District of the Marshals Service, said that the most unique aspect of this operation is that after finding these missing minors aged 9 to 17, they will also provide physical and psychological care, and will provide follow-up support, hoping that they will no longer be on the streets and further become victims.
The missing children and teenagers referred to by the Marshals Service as “in critical condition” are those who are at risk of violent crime or have other high-risk factors, such as drug abuse, sexual exploitation, exposure to crime scenes or domestic violence.
Deputy Marshals Service Director Mario Price said that Operation Longyan is not just the work of the Federal Marshals Service, but a joint operation of the entire society, with three main goals – to find missing children and teenagers in critical condition; to provide them with appropriate placement and other services; to curb bad guys who take advantage of the weaknesses of missing children.
The operation also arrested eight “bad guys” and charged them with human smuggling, child endangerment, drug possession, and interference with guardianship.
The St. Petersburg Police Department pointed out that the police found 11 missing teenagers and arrested two adults, one of whom was suspected of human smuggling.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said the operation was a powerful demonstration of the importance of cross-department cooperation. “The arrest of multiple suspects and the recovery of so many missing children and teenagers once again remind the public of our department’s firm commitment to protecting the most vulnerable groups.”
Operation Longyan mobilized federal, state, county, and town law enforcement personnel to create the most successful case in Florida’s history of combating crime and rescuing missing children.
