163 Missing Children Recovered In FL Operation, Including 46 In Tampa Bay

Florida law enforcement agencies found 163 missing children during a five-day statewide operation that included 46 recoveries in the Tampa Bay region, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a news release on Tuesday.

Operation Statewide Shield, led by the FDLE, was Florida's first statewide child-recovery initiative, which officials also said was one of the largest operations of its kind in U.S. history.

The children rescued ranged in age from 2 months to 17 years old.

The operation ran Aug. 17-21, and involved state, local and federal law enforcement agencies as well as child welfare organizations and other community partners.

In addition to the Tampa Bay recoveries, authorities located 41 children in Miami, 32 in Jacksonville, 21 in Orlando, 12 in Fort Myers, eight in Pensacola and three in Tallahassee, the news release said. There were also recoveries in six states, one U.S. territory and 12 countries.

Many of the recovered children had experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation or exposure to other criminal activity, officials said.

Children who needed assistance were taken to designated recovery hubs, where they could receive help from social service workers, child welfare professionals, medical providers and victim advocates.

The Florida Department of Children and Families and Department of Juvenile Justice handled custody transfers.

The operation also generated three felony cases that are being handled by the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.

“Operation Statewide Shield demonstrates the power of collaboration and the unwavering commitment shared by all participating agencies and organizations to achieve a singular mission: find our kids and bring them home,” FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement.

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