Breaking News: Historic Operation Dragon Eye
“Officials announced on Monday that dozens of children were rescued in a significant effort against child sex trafficking in Florida.“
The U.S. Marshals Service worked alongside various government agencies to carry out what has been described as the most successful operation to recover missing children in their history.
This initiative, called Operation Dragon Eye, focused on finding children aged 9 to 17 who had gone missing in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties over two weeks. According to the U.S. Marshals, Dragon Eye aimed to locate the most urgently missing children in these areas.”
“The attorney general called Dragon Eye the ‘largest child rescue operation, not just in Florida’s history, but in United States history.‘”
Scale and Coordination of Operation
A collaborative effort brought together 20 different organizations to find 60 children who were reported missing and to catch suspects involved in trafficking, drug-related activities, and putting children at risk.
In total, more than 100 people worked on this initiative, including members from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, social service organizations, non-profit organizations, and healthcare professionals, all coordinated under the leadership of the Marshals Service.
Several local law enforcement agencies participated in the operation. These include the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.
Named Operation Dragon Eye, this initiative was led by the U.S. Marshals Office in Central Florida, with assistance from the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which Attorney General James Uthmeier oversees.
Victims and Arrests
“Officials reported that the children who were found were between 9 and 17 years old. Many of them had been missing and were in danger of being taken advantage of.”
The U.S. Marshals Service defines “critically missing” children as those who are in grave danger, such as those at risk of violence or facing issues like substance abuse, exploitation, exposure to crime, or domestic violence.”
The operation revealed the shocking truths about sex trafficking. Among the discoveries were several young girls who were pregnant, with one even expecting the child of her trafficker.
“During the operation, authorities arrested eight people. These individuals are facing several serious charges, such as trafficking humans, putting children at risk, and being involved with drugs.”
“Most of the people we arrested were involved in human trafficking. Among them, it wasn’t just one child; some were responsible for multiple children being exploited. In the past, we would have referred to them as pimps, but today we call them human traffickers, and they are criminals,” explained Bill Berger, the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida.
“They are aware that these children were too young. If you consider the typical age of the offenders, who are often in their 30s and 40s, and compare that to the ages of the children involved, which range from 9 to 17 years old,” said Berger.
Read the full coverage here – Operation Dragon Eye
Comprehensive Care and Legal Action
“Officials emphasized that the work didn’t stop after rescuing the children. Each child got prompt medical check-ups and emotional support right away, and plans are in place for their ongoing care.”
“This operation successfully located and rescued critically missing children aged 9 to 17. We provided them with immediate medical and psychological care, along with ongoing support to help prevent them from returning to dangerous situations,” stated William Berger, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida.
“According to law enforcement, the people involved were given bond amounts between $250 million, and some were not granted any bond at all.”
The Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling criminal cases, with assistance from state attorneys in the Sixth and Thirteenth Judicial Circuits. Special Counsel Rita Peters has been chosen to head the prosecution in a human trafficking case. Meanwhile, two other trafficking cases are still being looked into.”
The St. Petersburg Police Department announced that they had found 11 missing young people and made two arrests, including one person linked to human trafficking.
Florida’s Fight Against Human Trafficking
“Sex trafficking remains a serious issue in Florida, which ranks among the top three states in the U.S. for reported cases of human trafficking, along with California and Texas. This information comes from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.”
In 2024, Florida reported receiving more than 1,830 alerts about possible cases of exploitation, which helped identify a total of 1,874 victims. The state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) discovered that many of these victims are young people aged 11 to 17, who are often misled or drawn in through social media and other online channels.
Governor Ron DeSantis has allocated $4.9 million to expand emergency shelters and support for trafficking victims. He also provided an additional $900,000 in grants to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“State lawmakers have created new laws to make the consequences tougher for those involved in human trafficking. They also require that hotel workers, healthcare providers, and school staff receive training to recognize and understand the signs of trafficking.”
Official Statements and Future Commitment
“The true heroes of this operation are the law enforcement officers who planned and carried it out,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “As your Attorney General and a father of three young children, my number one priority is keeping kids safe. If you harm a child, you will face serious consequences—no exceptions.”
“Sixty children have been rescued. This number clearly shows that Florida will not tolerate human trafficking,” Glass added.
“At FDLE, we remain committed to standing up for those who need help the most. For every family still searching for their missing child, we promise that our search will continue until we bring them home safely.” “This operation shows just how important it is for different agencies to work together,” said Chief Lee Bercaw of the Tampa Police Department.
“These recent arrests and recoveries highlight the dedication of the Tampa Police Department to safeguard our community’s most vulnerable members.”
“If the criminals are not caught, they might come back to these kids,” said Bill Berger, the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida. “I believe they’re like parasites, taking advantage of the vulnerable.”