Dozens of missing children – some as young as 1 – were rescued from sex traffickers in a massive federal sting that lead to nearly a dozen arrests, authorities said.
In all, 43 “critically missing children” were found across 14 counties over two weeks, the US Marshals Service said.
“Because of the tireless dedication of the US Marshals and our law enforcement partners, 43 endangered children will now be home safe for the holidays,” said Greg Leljedal, acting U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Florida.
The victims ranged in age from 1- to 17-years-old, and given physical and psychological care “to help them begin the path to healing,” he added.
Nine people were arrested in the operation that could result in additional charges of human trafficking, child endangerment, and custodial interference, authorities said.
Victims were also rescued from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
“The recovery of over 40 missing children reflects the unwavering commitment and teamwork from law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno.
“Every child deserves to be safe, and we will continue to use every resource at our disposal to bring missing children home and support their families.”
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