Worthy Christian News > US News > 39 missing Georgia children found during “Operation Not Forgotten”

39 missing Georgia children found during “Operation Not Forgotten”

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Thirty-nine missing children from the state of Georgia have just been found, the US Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed Thursday. Nine people were arrested as the two-week long multi-agency “Operation Not Forgotten” rescued 26 children and ensured 13 others were in safe locations, Just the News reported.

The operation was led by the U.S Marshals Service Missing Child Unit, in collaboration with the agency’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the National Center for Missing and exploited Children, and Georgia state and local agencies. The mission was carried out in Atlanta and Macon, Channel 3000 reported.

In a statement, Director of the Marshals Service Donald Washington said: “The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you.” 

A press release about the successful operation explained that the missing children were among the most at-risk of having been subjected to child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health problems. They are also considered to have challenging recovery times ahead of them.

Referencing the enormous vulnerability of at-risk children, Washington added: “They are America’s children, and they are kids that we need to go and find. Right here in Atlanta, approximately 300 young girls are lured into sex trafficking every month.”