Florida officials say 163 missing children were safely recovered during Operation Statewide Shield, a five-day statewide initiative conducted from August 17–21. The children ranged in age from just 2 months to 17 years old, making the operation the first state-led statewide child-recovery effort of its kind in Florida and one of the largest such operations in U.S. history.

The largest number of recoveries came from the Tampa Bay region, with 46 children, followed by Miami with 41, Jacksonville with 32, Orlando with 21, Fort Myers with 12, Pensacola with eight and Tallahᴀssee with three. Authorities also reported recoveries across six other states, one U.S. territory and 12 countries.

Officials said many of the children had experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation or exposure to other criminal activity, including human trafficking. After being located, children who needed ᴀssistance were taken to recovery hubs where they could receive support from social-service professionals, medical providers, child-welfare workers and victim advocates.