(TheLastPatriotNews.com) – A heroic deed was made by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement as they rescued rescue 32 missing children from dangerous situations such as human trafficking and exploitation in Ohio.
From August 19 to September 6, U.S. Marshals led Operation Homecoming, a multi-agency effort in the Akron and Summit County areas of Ohio.
Supported by local law enforcement, the operation successfully saved 32 missing children aged 13 to 18. Most were found in the Cleveland and Akron areas, with one child, missing since April 2022, located as far away as Washington state.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott praised the dedication of those involved and stressed the impact of their work on child safety.
Moreover, Deputy U.S. Marshal Vinny Piccoli revealed the harrowing circumstances some of these children were rescued from, stating:
“Guns, drugs, whatever the case may be, people that they’ve been hanging out with older males, older females, where there’s been trafficking involved, prostitution involved, so we’ve removed kids from situations like that.”
“Dedicated work by our Missing Child Unit along with Akron Police and the Sheriff’s Office have made an incredible impact in the safe recovery of these children,” Elliott stated.
He firmly added, “The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to dedicate its time and resources to the safe recovery of missing children in our communities throughout northern Ohio.”
In addition, the success of Operation Homecoming serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against modern slavery in America.
The Global Slavery Index estimates that over 1 million people in the U.S. live in conditions of modern slavery, which includes human trafficking, labor exploitation, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, domestic servitude, and criminal exploitation.
Summit County Sheriff Fatheree highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in the operation’s success.
“I’m proud of the excellent work of my team and of our partner agencies in this very important operation. It is a great example of how collaboration makes us stronger and helps us to better serve and protect our community,” Fatheree commented.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Marshals’ authority to search for missing children was expanded by federal lawmakers in 2015, demonstrating the government’s commitment to protecting America’s youth.
In response to this expanded authority, U.S. Marshal Elliott established the Missing Child Unit in Northern Ohio last year, further strengthening the region’s ability to locate and rescue endangered children.
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