A five-day statewide law enforcement operation has recovered 163 missing children.
Through Operation Statewide Shield, children were found across the state, including 46 in the Tampa Bay region, 41 in Miami, 32 in Jacksonville, and 3 in Tallahassee. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier talked about the effort during a press conference Tuesday.
Uthemeier says the children range in age from 2 months to 17 years old. He says many of them were human trafficking victims and suffered abuse, neglect and exploitation.
"We will give them the treatment they need to get back on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, for many of them, their lives will not be the same. They will need our continued help, our prayers, and our support, but at least they are no longer in the hands of evil," he said.
The children are receiving support at so-called "recovery hubs" from social services, medical providers and victim advocates.
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