Operation Dragon Eye: How Florida's Multi-Agency Sting Rescued 60 Missing Children

Operation Dragon Eye: How Florida's Multi-Agency Sting Rescued 60 Missing Children

Operation Dragon Eye: How Florida's Multi-Agency Sting Rescued 60 Missing Children

In June 2025, Florida authorities announced a remarkable yet sobering accomplishment: 60 critically missing children had been rescued during a sweeping six-week operation named Operation Dragon Eye. This monumental effort is more than a success story; it’s a wake-up call about the scope of child endangerment and the power of collaborative intervention. It reveals what can happen when local, state, and federal agencies combine forces in the name of justice.

📍 Case Overview: What Was Operation Dragon Eye?

• Date Announced: June 25, 2025

• Operation Length: 6 weeks

• State: Florida (multi-county initiative)

• Agencies Involved:

  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

  • U.S. Marshals Service

  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

  • Florida Department of Children and Families

  • Multiple local sheriff’s departments, including Hillsborough and Polk Counties

🔗 Source: NY Post Article
🔗 National Human Trafficking Hotline: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/florida
🔗 Florida Abuse Hotline: https://reportabuse.dcf.state.fl.us/

The sting operation focused on tracking and recovering children listed as "critically missing," a designation used when children are believed to be in significant danger, including those suspected of being trafficked, exploited, or endangered due to criminal affiliations or neglect.

Eight individuals were arrested as a result of the operation, including known gang members and sex offenders who were harboring or associated with these missing children.

🔎 How It Worked: Coordinated Tracking and Enforcement

Operation Dragon Eye leveraged the strengths of each agency:

• FDLE and local law enforcement provided boots on the ground for active search operations.

• NCMEC offered national-level intelligence, data, and case coordination for children flagged as high-risk.

• U.S. Marshals used advanced tracking methods and worked across state lines to locate minors, including one who had been taken out of Florida entirely.

This operation relied heavily on inter-agency communication and shared databases, allowing investigators to connect missing persons reports, digital activity, and criminal networks.

🔐 Who Were the Children Rescued?

While individual identities were protected due to the sensitive nature of the cases, officials confirmed that:

• Many of the children were found in dangerous environments, including homes where drug use and gang activity were prevalent.

• Several were runaways, often targeted by traffickers who prey on youth experiencing family instability or abuse.

• Others were flagged as victims of sexual exploitation or identified as having been groomed online.

Some children had been missing for extended periods, and at least one was recovered in another state, showcasing the necessity of cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

⛔ Arrests and Criminal Implications

Eight suspects were arrested during the course of the operation. These individuals face various charges ranging from child endangerment to sexual exploitation, harboring minors, and probation violations.

Some of the individuals arrested had prior convictions and were either on parole or registered sex offenders. Others had gang affiliations and were using these children for illegal activity or exploitation.

Their arrests were not incidental—they were a direct result of coordinated tracking, surveillance, and follow-up intelligence shared across departments.

⚡ Why This Operation Matters: Multi-Agency Collaboration Saves Lives

Operation Dragon Eye is a model for how law enforcement collaboration can dramatically shift outcomes for vulnerable youth. Rather than isolated departments working on disconnected cases, this operation showcased the power of strategic unity.

By pooling resources, intelligence, and jurisdictional reach, the agencies involved were able to:

• Recover children quickly and safely

• Remove predators from their spheres of influence

• Disrupt trafficking and exploitation networks

This is a vital reminder that trafficking prevention and intervention is not just about prosecution but about rescue and restoration.

📊 The Ongoing Child Trafficking Crisis in Florida

Florida consistently ranks as one of the top three states in the U.S. for human trafficking cases, alongside California and Texas. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, hundreds of trafficking cases are reported in Florida each year, many involving minors.

Florida’s dense population, tourism industry, and large urban centers make it a common target for trafficking operations. Vulnerable children—especially runaways, foster youth, and those with unstable home lives—are often targeted by traffickers through social media and grooming tactics.

In 2023 alone, NCMEC reported over 25,000 cases of missing children nationwide. Of those, one in six was likely a victim of sex trafficking.

🏠 What Happens After Rescue?

Rescuing a child is just the beginning. These young survivors often carry emotional, psychological, and physical scars. After rescue, many require:

• Immediate medical care for injuries or untreated conditions

• Mental health support to address trauma, PTSD, and grief

• Legal advocacy, particularly in cases where custody or guardianship is in question

• Safe housing, such as trauma-informed foster care or residential programs

• Case management to track their progress and ensure continuity of care

• Faith-based mentoring, where requested, to support spiritual healing

Programs like Florida’s Voices for Florida and Children’s Home Society offer a continuum of services for youth recovering from exploitation.

🌟 Faith Communities and Community Leaders: Your Role Matters

Faith-based organizations, youth pastors, educators, and parents all have a part to play in preventing trafficking. Here’s how:

• Educate your community on trafficking red flags and how predators groom victims.

• Partner with local agencies to host awareness trainings and prevention workshops.

• Support at-risk families and youth with mentoring, transportation, and resources.

• Report suspicious activity using the Florida Abuse Hotline or the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

🏛️ A Model for Future Operations

Operation Dragon Eye was not just a one-time sweep; it was a proof of concept. With more funding, training, and inter-agency collaboration, states can replicate this approach to:

• Track critically missing children across county and state lines

• Break down bureaucratic barriers

• Address trafficking proactively rather than reactively

Florida’s model should be studied and expanded, especially in states with high trafficking rates. By uniting public safety with social services and federal oversight, more children can be protected and more lives can be restored.

✉️ Call to Action: Don’t Look Away

Every child recovered through Operation Dragon Eye represents a life pulled back from the brink. But for every child rescued, there are many more still trapped.

We must:

• Stay vigilant in our neighborhoods and online communities

• Support organizations that provide aftercare to survivors

• Encourage local law enforcement to pursue collaborative models like this one

• Speak up when something seems wrong—a call can save a life

Doing It for the Kingdom, Inc. remains committed to raising awareness about trafficking and equipping churches, schools, and families with the tools to identify, prevent, and respond to exploitation.

🔗 Visit https://www.doingitforthekingdom.org to learn more, get involved, or make a donation.

Because every child matters. And every rescue is worth the fight.