Federal authorities found 225 missing children over a recent 10-week span across the United States, U.S. territories and Mexico as part of a coordinated law enforcement operation, Fox News reports.
This week, the United States Marshals Service announced the results of the effort, dubbed operation “We Will Find You.”
Of those children found, 169 were recovered and 56 others were deemed to be safely located. The vast majority – 86% – were considered endangered runaways, while 9% were familial abductions and 5% were classified as otherwise missing. The youngest child recovered was just 6 months old.
The operation focused on especially challenging cases “based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions,” the Marshals Service said in a press release.
“The U.S. Marshals Service is fully committed to the important mission of protecting the American people, especially our most vulnerable population – our children,” Ronald Davis, director of the Marshals Service, said in a statement. “The results of this operation underscore that commitment, but also highlight the necessity of these critical efforts.”
Law enforcement conducted the operation in Virginia; Washington D.C.; Maryland; Massachusetts; South Carolina; Louisiana; Texas; Michigan; Washington state; Florida; California; Ohio; Guam; Puerto Rico; and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Agents also arrested a couple in the agency’s “Top 15 Most Wanted” who had fled to Mexico from Washington state with five of their children.
Twenty-eight of the cases were referred to police for further investigation for weapons, drugs and sex crimes. U.S. Marshals reported potential trafficking in more than 40 cases.
State and local law enforcement agencies also assisted in the operation, according to WKMG-TV.
To report information about missing or endangered children, call local police or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-The-Lost.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
