A three-month operation by the US Marshals Service in Louisiana led to the recovery of 16 missing children, the arrest of five individuals and uncovered allegations of sex trafficking in several of the cases, according to the agency.
Highlights
- The operation, dubbed “Fresh Start,” took place in the New Orleans area from January 1 of this year until March 31.
- It was led by the Missing Child Unit of the US Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans Task Force.
- It ended in the rescue or recovery of 16 missing and endangered children, the agency said.
- In one case, a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year old boy were recovered in late January after they were taken by a non-custodial parent, who is their mother.
- The mother took the children to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area where a task force recovered the children and arrested the mother.