NORTH FLORIDA — A U.S. Marshals Service-led operation conducted earlier this month resulted in the recovery or safe location of 43 critically missing children from 14 counties across North Florida, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Local law enforcement agencies from Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa counties played active roles in the operation, working alongside federal partners to help locate missing children and investigate related criminal activity. Participating agencies included the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, according to the U.S. Marshals Service
The two-week initiative, known as Operation Northern Lights, brought together a large, multidisciplinary task force of federal, state, and local agencies, along with social services, medical providers, and non-governmental organizations. The operation focused on locating children considered at elevated risk of harm due to factors such as violence, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, or domestic instability…