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Missing children were at the center of a major three-day law enforcement operation on Long Island and in New York City that located 34 children and teenagers, including young people officials said had experienced human trafficking and exploitation.

The Long Island Children Rescue Operation ran from Tuesday through Thursday, with nearly 100 professionals from approximately 40 agencies and organizations working from a command center in Garden City, Nassau County. The children located during the operation ranged in age from 7 to 18, and some had been missing for periods ranging from several days to as long as 10 years.

34 Children Located Across Long Island and Queens

According to officials, 18 of the children located were from Nassau County, 12 were from Suffolk County and four were from Queens.

The cases varied considerably. Officials said almost all of the young people had been reported as runaways, but some had been subjected to human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

The operation was designed not only to locate children but also to connect them with services following their recovery. Those services included medical attention, basic daily necessities and other forms of support intended to address the circumstances the children experienced while they were missing.

The operation also demonstrated the scale of coordination required when multiple missing-child investigations are handled simultaneously.

Nearly 100 Professionals Worked From One Command Center

The operation brought together law enforcement officers, child-service professionals, investigators and technology specialists.

Working from a central location allowed personnel from different agencies to communicate directly rather than handling every request separately. Tim Williams, program manager at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' Missing Persons Clearinghouse, told the New York Post that having everyone working in the same room meant questions and requests could be handled directly across the team.

Investigators also focused resources on communities where missing-child cases had been identified as a concern.

The operation was part of an expanding statewide effort to locate vulnerable children and teenagers whose cases remain open.

New York's Missing-Child Numbers

New York State Police Superintendent Steven James said that 10,629 children younger than 18 were reported missing to police throughout New York in 2025.

According to his statement, approximately 94% of those reports were classified as runaways. Police closed 10,672 missing-child cases during 2025 involving reports from that year or earlier.

At the end of 2025, however, 1,079 active missing-child cases remained statewide.

Those figures demonstrate why law enforcement agencies continue to conduct coordinated operations rather than treating each case as an isolated investigation.

Fourth Major Child Rescue Operation in New York

The Long Island operation was the fourth large-scale child rescue effort conducted in New York.

Previous operations in Erie County, the Capital Region and Westchester County collectively located 168 missing children and teenagers.

In February, a major operation in Westchester County involving approximately 70 federal, state and local agencies located 43 missing and runaway children. That investigation operated from a hotel in Mount Kisco and represented another example of agencies concentrating personnel and investigative resources in one location.

Officials involved in the Long Island operation emphasized that recovery is only the beginning of the process.

Kevin Branzetti, chief executive officer of the National Child Protection Task Force, said locating a child quickly is important, but investigators and support professionals also need to understand why the child left, what happened while the child was away and what assistance may be necessary afterward.

Law Enforcement and Support Services Continue After Recovery

The distinction between runaway cases and children subjected to exploitation was an important component of the operation.

Although most of the 34 cases involved young people classified as runaways, officials said some children encountered trafficking or other exploitation while missing. The operation therefore included efforts to connect recovered children with professionals capable of addressing medical, emotional and practical needs.

The governor's office said 31 local missing-child cases remained open after the operation, underscoring that the recovery of 34 children did not represent the end of missing-child investigations across Long Island and New York City.

Authorities continue to encourage coordinated reporting and investigative efforts when children disappear, particularly when there are indications that a child may be vulnerable to exploitation.

Related Links and Missing-Child Allegations

Readers can review the original New York Post report on the 34 children rescued during the Long Island operation and Newsday's coverage of the Long Island rescue operation. Additional information is available through New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's announcement about the 34 children located.

Readers can also review the New York Post report on the Westchester County operation that located 43 missing and runaway children last year.

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