Overview
- Florida announced that Operation Statewide Shield recovered 163 children, ages 2 months to 17, during a focused five-day mission in mid‑August.
- The operation was led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the attorney general’s office and drew on tactics from prior U.S. Marshals efforts to coordinate dozens of agencies.
- Rescues occurred across multiple U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and more than a dozen countries, showing the effort’s international reach and cross‑border cooperation.
- Three men have been publicly arrested so far on charges including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, battery, and interference with child custody, and officials say more arrests are expected.
- Recovered children were taken to specially staffed recovery hubs for medical care, social services and victim advocacy, cases were updated in the Missing and Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse, and probes remain active with prosecutors signaling they will pursue maximum penalties where applicable.