Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the successful location and rescue of 43 missing children aged 1-17 years old under Operation Northern Lights this week.
“Our office was honored to partner with U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal in the Northern District of Florida to rescue 43 missing children, some as young as 18 months old,” Uthmeier said in a release. We will bring the strongest charges possible against those who put these kids in harm's way.”
According to the attorney general's office, the operation recovered missing children and teens in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi from December 1-12, 2025. As a result, nine people were arrested, mostly for interfering with child custody.
Authorities are also investigating two potential cases of human trafficking stemming from the rescue efforts.
The U.S. Marshals Service led the multi-agency recovery effort, along with Homeland Security Investigations, the Office of the Attorney General, and other law enforcement partners. The Office of Statewide Prosecution also assisted in legal support with law enforcement personnel to ensure warrants, recoveries, and arrests were carried out legitimately.
“Operation Northern Lights shows what can be accomplished when agencies work together towards the same goal: protecting our children,” Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay said. “The recoveries made in this operation are the result of the tireless commitment to protecting kids that exists across local, state, and federal agencies.”
Uthmeier's announcement comes after another successful child recovery effort, Operation Home for the Holidays, last month.
That rescue, called by Uthmeier one of the largest in American history, helped recover 122 children across Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and several other states over two weeks.
Victims in that operation ranged from 23 months to 17 years old, similar to Operation Northern Lights.
"Protecting our kids, keeping them safe, preventing them from being extorted and endangered - that's what it's all about," Uthmeier said at the time. "That's why we go to work every day, that's why we do what we do. There is no greater calling when it comes to law enforcement."
Uthmeier also led another large child rescue operation in June.
