31 missing children recovered in “Operation Missing in the Metroplex”

Operation Missing in the Metroplex was led by the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations and took place over approximately 30 days.

During that time, the Marshals and HSI partnered with the Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie Police Departments to locate 31 missing minors.

Acting United States Marshal Quintella Downs-Bradshaw said, "Victims should know they are not forgotten, there is hope and a way to return home."

Seven of the minors recovered were listed as "critically missing" and had ties to sex trafficking. No information has been released at this time concerning possible charges related to these recoveries.

The girls ranged in age from 13 to 17 years old. One was recovered from a "john's" house, one was found in an Uber during a prostitution sting, and another was located walking on Lancaster Boulevard.

The remaining 24 children recovered were located with friends or relatives and returned to their rightful guardians.

All of the children recovered have been removed form the missing children database.

“While this joint operation lasted approximately 30 days, HSI Dallas will continue working relentlessly to identify and recover missing children who become vulnerable to human traffickers across the North Texas region,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin. “Our continued collaboration with our local, state and federal law-enforcement partners and non-governmental organizations is vital to combatting this global epidemic.”

According to the press release issued by the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, the "Justice department records more than 420,000 reports of missing children each year."