Federal authorities announced on Thursday that they have rescued 43 children following a 12-day operation in Florida.
The U.S. Marshals Service said it and personnel from 25 other agencies located the children during Operation Northern Lights, which was conducted from December 1 to December 12. The mission focused on finding critically missing children and providing them with immediate care and protection from exploitation, according to WPEC.
In addition to Florida, authorities located children in Louisiana and Mississippi. One of the rescued children reportedly included a 1-year-old from Baton Rogue, Louisiana, and a 13-year-old who had been missing for eight months.
Authorities said nine arrests were made, mostly for custody interference.
“We will bring the strongest charges possible against those who put these kids in harm’s way,” Attorney General James Uthmeier commented, according to WFLA.
Operation Northern Lights was conducted under the Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Additional criminal charges are pending.
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[Featured image: Leon County police]