21 missing and endangered children rescued across Lee, Collier and Hendry counties

ESTERO, Fla. —

The National Child Protection Task Force said 21 missing and endangered children have been rescued across Lee, Collier and Hendry counties.

In a news conference on Friday, the NCPTF said the Missing Child Rescue Operation was completed this week as local, state and federal law enforcement agencies worked with child protection professionals, nonprofit organizations and technology partners to find and save kids at risk of exploitation or harm.

A total of 14 agencies and 145 people were involved in the operation.

This was the NCPTF’s first coordinated deployment in Southwest Florida and its second in Florida. The first in Northeast Florida resulted in the location of 29 endangered missing children.

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