Dozens of 'critically missing' Florida children recovered, 8 suspects arrested in Operation Dragon Eye

Dozens of critically missing children recovered

Genevieve Curtis reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - Federal, state and local agencies partnered to safely recover 60 "critically missing" children throughout the Tampa Bay area in what U.S. Marshals call the most successful missing child recovery operation in American history.

Operation Dragon Eye

Big picture view:

Federal authorities say Operation Dragon Eye focused on finding missing children ages 9-17 from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties over a two-week period. Twenty agencies and more than 100 people were involved, according to officials.

"The number is not just a statistic," said Rita Peters, special counsel to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. "It actually represents a life and a future that was given one more chance."

The United States Marshals Service defines "critically missing" children as "those at risk of crimes of violence or those with other elevated risk factors such as substance abuse, sexual exploitation, crime exposure, or domestic violence."

Operation Dragon Eye: Full news conference

Federal, state and local officials gave an update Monday on Operation Dragon Eye, which led to the recovery of 60 "critically missing" children in the Tampa Bay area.

The operation uncovered gut-wrenching realities — including several young girls who were pregnant, one of them carrying the child of her trafficker.

"Because of you, a baby has an opportunity to be born addiction-free," said Natasha Nascimento, the founder of the non-profit Redefining Refuge, which supported the mission. "This child was forced to use substances. A baby gets to be born to a mom who is not being sold every day."

Operation Dragon Eye also led to the arrests of eight suspects on charges including human trafficking, child endangerment, drug possession and custodial interference.

Local perspective:

Local law enforcement agencies that took part in the operation include the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, and Pasco Sheriff's Office.

Courtesy: United States Marshals Service.

U.S. Marshals say BayCare helped provide medical and mental health care to the recovered children, while organizations including More Too Life, the Children's Home Network, Bridging Freedom, Bridges of Hope, Family Support Services Pasco Pinellas Counties, and Redefining Refuge have also provided resources.

READ: The case against Ronnie Walker hinges on two witnesses with criminal pasts

What they're saying:

At a news conference in Tampa on Monday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier emphasized the team effort at the federal, state and local levels.

"It took a lot of people to get this done," Uthmeier said. "What makes Florida the ‘rule of law state’ is we're great at working together in collaboration across agency lines."

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass spoke about the trauma the investigators, prosecutors and human rights advocates faced, along with the victims.

Pictured: Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass speaks at a news conference in Tampa on June 23, 2025.

"The things that they have to see: they have to see the whole case," Glass said. "They have to see everything that happens to these children, and we need to pray for them because they had to take that burden home."

Glass also said that while Operation Dragon Eye made great strides against human trafficking, the fight is far from over.

"Horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible," Glass said. "And we should purge those from our society, put them in jail where they belong."

"If the offenders are not apprehended, they will reconnect with these children," Bill Berger, the U.S. Marshal of the Middle District of Florida, said. "They are, in my opinion, leeches."

Pictured: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks at a news conference in Tampa on June 23, 2025.

Follow FOX 13 on YouTube

Law enforcement officials say the suspects received bonds ranging from $250 million to no bond.

"Every kid recovered by this operation is an opportunity. It's a chance, it's a touchpoint, it's a connection for that young person and the larger community," Dr. Katherine Gomez, the Director of Human Trafficking Intervention with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, said. "And maybe today will be the day that that young person decides to make major changes in their life. Maybe today is not the day. But today, at least, that day of recovery, that day, we know that they were safe."

The St. Pete Police Department says 11 of the children found were from St. Pete. Two of the arrests came out of St. Pete, with one being for alleged human trafficking.

The children who were found were connected with health care and social services.

The Source: This story was written with information from the United States Marshals Service and details given at a news conference on June 23, 2025.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: