Authorities have found 39 missing children in Georgia during a two-week effort to rescue endangered minors.
The US Marshals Service Missing Child Unit led the search, dubbed "Operation Not Forgotten."
It collaborated with the agency's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and state and local agencies.
The operation resulted in the rescue of 26 children and safe location of 13 others, US Marshals said in a news release on Thursday.
"The US Marshals Service is fully committed to assisting federal, state, and local agencies with locating and recovering endangered missing children, in addition to their primary fugitive apprehension mission," US Marshals Service Director Donald Washington said in a statement.
"The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you."
Acting Special Agent in Charge, Phil Wislar attends a press conference with our partners @USMarshalsHQ announcing the recovery of 39 missing children in Georgia during "Operation Not Forgotten". Thank you to all our partners involved!https://t.co/CtnXnmbLXW pic.twitter.com/yMC4TIAVKO
— FBI Atlanta (@FBIAtlanta) August 27, 2020
During the operation, authorities arrested nine people, cleared 26 warrants and filed additional charges for alleged crimes related to sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, registered sex offender violations, drugs and weapons possession and custodial interference, US Marshals said.
Some of the rescued children were believed to have been victims of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse and medical or mental health conditions.
Others were missing and located at the request of law enforcement to make sure they weren't in danger.
The children ranged in age from 3 to 17, Washington said at a news conference.
The rescues were "the most at risk and challenging recovery cases in the area," he said.
Latest Stories
-
Bawumia joins thousands in Kumasi for burial prayers for Ashanti Regional Imam
2 hours -
Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited challenges government actions in court
3 hours -
Patrick Atangana Fouda: ‘A hero of the fight against HIV leaves us’
3 hours -
Trinity Oil MD Gabriel Kumi elected Board Chairman of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies
4 hours -
ORAL campaign key to NDC’s election victory – North America Dema Naa
4 hours -
US Supreme Court to hear TikTok challenge to potential ban
4 hours -
Amazon faces US strike threat ahead of Christmas
5 hours -
Jaguar Land Rover electric car whistleblower sacked
5 hours -
US makes third interest rate cut despite inflation risk
5 hours -
Fish processors call for intervention against illegal trawling activities
5 hours -
Ghana will take time to recover – Akorfa Edjeani
6 hours -
Boakye Agyarko urges reforms to revitalise NPP after election defeat
6 hours -
Finance Minister skips mini-budget presentation for third time
6 hours -
‘ORAL’ team to work gratis – Ablakwa
6 hours -
Affirmative Action Coalition condemns lack of gender quotas in Transition, anti-corruption teams
6 hours