The 12-day mission, labeled Operation Northern Lights, was led by the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies.
Officials said all the children were considered critically missing, a classification used to describe children who may be at risk of violent crime, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, crime exposure or domestic violence.
Some of the children were believed to have been taken across multiple counties and even state lines before being found.
Sgt. Rachel Buell with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said the agencies began by compiling a list of those who were critically missing and then splitting the cases up by jurisdiction.
Officers went door-to-door, scoured social media and made phone calls, among other efforts, to narrow down where the children could be.
Buell said when a child goes missing, there is an 80% chance the child will be a victim of human trafficking, so in these cases time is crucial.
“You would think that finding kids probably wouldn’t be that hard, they’re kids. But in all reality, they’re harder to find sometimes than the adults,” Buell said. “Finding them before they find themselves in situations that they can’t get themselves out of is important to us.”
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