TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The U.S. Marshals Service just completed a five-week operation to rescue critically at-risk children in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
A multi-agency task force, dubbed “Operation Seminole Saber” rescued 27 children from potential trafficking and other dangerous situations.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Mario Price said the task force was focused on one primary mission.
“The ultimate purpose of the operation is to recover missing children,” Price said.
U.S. Marshals teamed up with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Departments, as well as other local agencies to find and recover the children.
“They’ve been reported missing by whoever their guardian is,” Price said. “Sometimes that’s a family member and sometimes these kids are wards of the state.”
Some of the children run away from abusive family situations and some are lured by bad people doing bad things.
“I do believe these kids are in legitimate danger and I think it’s important that we find them,” Price said.