US authorities recover 163 missing children in sweeping five-day operation

WEB DESK: US authorities have recovered 163 missing children, ranging in age from two months to 17 years, during a five-day multi-agency operation that extended across five continents.

The children were recovered from several US states and territories as well as countries including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain and Taiwan, according to authorities.

Florida-led operation targets missing children

The operation, known as “Operation Statewide Shield”, was led by law enforcement authorities in Florida in coordination with federal and foreign law enforcement agencies, according to Fox News.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the operation was the first statewide child-recovery initiative of its kind in the state and the largest such operation in Florida’s history.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) directed the operation, drawing on lessons from previous child-recovery initiatives conducted by the US Marshals Service.

Uthmeier said some of the recovered children were runaways, while others had been abandoned, neglected or abused. Some were also identified as victims of trafficking.

“Many of these kids have been victimised by those who prey on the most vulnerable,” Uthmeier said as quoted by Fox News.

He added that the children were now safe and receiving the care they needed, while authorities would continue investigating those suspected of exploiting or abusing children.

Children recovered across US and overseas

Authorities recovered children in Florida, Alabama, California, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Tennessee.

International recoveries were also reported in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain and Taiwan, with local and foreign law enforcement agencies assisting in the cases.

As children were located, local law enforcement officers transported them to designated hubs where they received assistance from social workers, child welfare professionals, medical providers, victim advocates and other child-focused agencies.

Some of the children were reunited with their families, while others were placed in foster care, according to the attorney general’s office.

Three men arrested, more arrests expected

The operation has so far resulted in the arrests of three men, while authorities said several additional investigations have been launched.

Michael Prescott was arrested on August 21 by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. He faces three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, one count of felony battery and one count of aggravated assault.

Florida just pulled 163 missing kids out of hell in five days.

Operation Statewide Shield.

FDLE led it. Tampa 46. Miami 41. Jacksonville 32. Orlando 21. Fort Myers 12. Pensacola 8. Tallahassee 3.

Youngest was 2 months old. Oldest was 17.

That is not a statistic. That is… pic.twitter.com/X2gPy5EGSK

— Arkadalo® (@Arkadalo) August 29, 2026

Prescott also had an active warrant for interference with child custody, according to authorities.

Robert Ferral Allison was arrested on August 20 by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and charged with lewd and lascivious battery involving a victim aged 12 to 16.

Jayden Allen Harwood was arrested on charges of interference in a child custody case and resisting officers without violence, according to Uthmeier’s office.

“Many more investigations [have been] started,” a spokesman for the attorney general’s office said, adding that more arrests are expected.

Multiple agencies involved in recovery effort

The operation involved the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Juvenile Justice, BayCare, More to Life and the Florida Human Trafficking Victims Fund.

Numerous municipal and federal law enforcement agencies also assisted, along with 13 Florida sheriff’s offices, including those in Manatee, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Clay, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Flagler, Orange, Escambia, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

The recoveries allowed the children’s cases listed with the Missing and Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse to be closed, authorities said.