Operation Dragon-Eye: U.S. Marshals Recover 60 Critically Missing Children in Historic Florida Mission

In what has been hailed as the most effective missing child recovery mission in the history of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), a massive two-week operation led to the safe recovery or location of 60 critically missing children across three Florida counties. The initiative—Operation Dragon-Eye—mobilized dozens of agencies across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties, marking a powerful example of what coordinated, community-based law enforcement can accomplish. An Unprecedented Recovery Effort Operation Dragon-Eye was launched with the purpose of finding children classified as critically missing—a designation given to minors considered to be at immediate risk of danger due to exposure to violence, trafficking, substance abuse, mental health crises, or unsafe environments. These cases often involve runaways, abductions, or youth who have disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The operation was coordinated by the USMS in collaboration with: “This was more than a law enforcement effort. It was a lifesaving mission,” said William Berger, United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida. “Every child recovered was someone’s son, daughter, sister, or brother. They mattered. They were not just statistics.” Support Beyond Recovery: Healing and Protection What made Operation Dragon-Eye especially noteworthy was not just the sheer number of recoveries, but the aftercare… CONTINUE READING…