Florida-led operation rescues 163 children around globe in historic state sweep, hunts suspected predators
FIRST ON FOX: A multi-agency effort in Florida has recovered 163 children–from 2 months old to 17– across five continents during Operation Statewide Shield, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday.
Working with federal and foreign law enforcement agencies, Florida law enforcement officials spent five days in mid-August tracking and recovering the missing children.
Some of the children were runaways, Uthmeier’s office said.
Some had been abandoned, neglected or abused.
Some had been trafficked.
MIKE WALTZ, TIM TEBOW LAUNCH EFFORT TO COMBAT ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION: 'IT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKYARD' "Many of these kids have been victimized by those who prey on the most vulnerable," Uthmeier said.
The August mission was Florida’s first statewide child-recovery initiative and the largest operation of its kind in Florida history, according to Uthmeier’s office.
MORE THAN 300 ARRESTED IN SPRAWLING CALIFORNIA CRACKDOWN ON CHILD EXPLOITATION CRIMES Thanks to the work of the operation’s partners, he said, "these children are now safe and receiving the care they deserve.
"Florida will continue leading the recovery of missing children , hunting down every predator, and prosecuting abusers to the fullest extent of the law." ICE ARRESTS MORE THAN 900 SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKERS DURING FIFA WORLD CUP, RESCUES 180 VICTIMS: DHS Rescuers recovered the children in Florida, Alabama, California, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Tennessee.
They also found children in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain and Taiwan, Uthmeier’s office said.
Three men have been arrested so far, a spokesman for Uthmeier told Fox News Digital.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AMONG 70 ARRESTED IN MISSISSIPPI CHILD EXPLOITATION CRACKDOWN: FEDS Michael Prescott was arrested on Aug.
21 by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
He was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, one count of felony battery and one count of aggravated assault.
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