TAMPA, Fla. — Family Support Services of Pasco and Pinellas Counties was one of several local agencies that provided support and resources for “Operation Dragon Eye” led by U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement held a press conference today to announce the success of “Operation Dragon Eye”. This two week operation took place in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties and led to the safe recovery of 60 children who were reported missing, and the arrests of eight people ranging from human trafficking to child endangerment.

Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch says, “Operation Dragon Eye is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together with urgency and with shared purpose.”

26 rescued children had been reported missing to National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

During the operation, authorities identified at least 26 children rescued who had been reported missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Callahan Walsh, Executive Director and co-host of “America’s Most Wanted”, attended to thank all who partnered in this operation. “Thanks to the incredible coordination by the U.S. Marshal Service and its partners, more than 60 children were safely recovered across three counties. This is more than a number. It represents dozens of lives brought out of harm’s way and a powerful testament to what can be accomplished, through communication, collaboration, and data sharing.”

The harsh reality of exploited children

Natasha Nascimento, Founder and Executive Director of Redefining Refuge shared a heartbreaking yet stirring story of a rescued young girl who is pregnant and went to her first ultrasound. “She had never, ever heard the beating heart of her baby,” Natasha said.

She continues, “Once she heard it, all she said was “my baby.” But this moment awakened something in this child, and it shifted something in this child, and it was almost as though she realized that instead of just doing the soul stretching work of surviving, she was willing to fight for the life that was inside of her.”

Ms. Nascimento thanked her staff, law enforcement departments, child agencies and advocates for their work. “And now because of you, a baby has the opportunity to be born addiction free, this child was forced to use substances by her trafficker throughout her pregnancy. And so a baby gets to be born, addiction free. A baby gets to be born to a mom who’s not being sold every day, and a baby gets to have a story that doesn’t start with trauma, but that starts with recovery.”

Read a brief report here.

Watch the complete press conference from Fox 13 Tampa Bay here on YouTube.

FSS is currently seeking foster parents. Interested? Get more info: recruitment@fsssuncoast.org.