Dozens of missing children, some as young as just one year old, rescued from sex traffickers in massive sting
By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER
Published: 11:50 EST, 20 December 2025 | Updated: 12:24 EST, 20 December 2025
More than three dozen missing children were rescued from sex traffickers in North Florida after a massive sting.
The rescue effort, named Operation Northern Lights, found 43 missing children across 14 counties with more children found in other states, the US Marshals Service announced Thursday.
Federal authorities said the youngest victims were one-year-olds and that one of the young victims had been abducted from Florida and located in Louisiana.
Nine people were arrested after the staggering operation, which law enforcement said took two weeks to conduct.
Additional charges could include human trafficking, child endangerment and custodial interference.
The sting turned up additional missing children in North Florida, but also in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
'This was the most successful missing child operation ever conducted in Northern Florida,' Greg Leljedal, acting US Marshal for the Northern District of Florida, said.
'Because of the tireless dedication of the U.S. Marshals and our law enforcement partners, 43 endangered children will now be home safe for the holidays.'
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15401781/missing-children-rescued-florida-operation-northern-lights.html
