Dozens of Missing Children Rescued in Virginia

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Missing children rescue Virginia US marshals

United States Marshals alongside multiple local police agencies took part in a raids that resulted in the rescue of 27 missing children in Virginia.

The task force was comprised of more than 60 law enforcement officers, a mixture of U.S. Marshals as well as officers from Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach police departments. The massive operation also had more than 50 social services workers and medical professionals assisting in the rescue.

Operation Find Our Children

The five day operation, appropriately named “Operation Find Our Children,” was able to locate and rescue 27 kids that were reported missing throughout the state of Virginia.

In a statement to reporters, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said “The Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable people in our society and Operation Find Our Children does just that.

While this Virginia operation is the most recent recovery of endangered and missing children led by the U.S. Marshals Service this year, we have also recovered more than 440 kids in Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana and other states. Because of this initiative, the recovered children are now out of harm’s way.”

The United States Marshals have been leading the way in a nationwide effort to rescue missing kids and aid in the prevention of human trafficking. According to department records, since 2005 the U.S. Marshals Service has recovered more than 2,000 missing children. The agency also claims it has a 75% success rate of locating and rescuing victims of human trafficking.

missing children rescued in virginia

US Marshals to the rescue

“The U.S. Marshals Service has a legendary history of finding fugitives and bringing them to justice,” said Thomas L. Foster, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Virginia.

“Because of this specialized skill set, finding missing children is a natural extension of the Marshal’s mission. This operation brought missing and exploited children to a place of safety and those who made the decision to prey upon them to justice.”

Nick E. Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia also spoke about the success of the mission. “I can think of no more critical or satisfying mission for a law enforcement officer than rescuing an endangered child.

This operation brought together a formidable team that was, and is, determined to come to the aid of our youth and bring to justice those among us that choose to prey on these vulnerable children. We want the missing children across this great nation to know the U.S. Marshals Service will never stop looking for you, we will find you.”

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