# Investigation into Brazilian children in Florida rescue

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/investigation-into-brazilian-children-in-florida-rescue
> Updated: 2026-09-08T22:16:00.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 2.

Brazilian authorities and international agencies are investigating potential links between missing children in Brazil and a large-scale rescue operation in Florida, United States. The ‘Statewide Shield’ operation, conducted between August 17 and 21, rescued 163 children and adolescents from exploitation.

In Pará, the Brazilian Federal Police are coordinating with U.S. officials to determine if 18-month-old José Arthur Sousa Barros, who disappeared in March, is among those rescued. The investigation has been transferred to the Homicide Division in Marabá to investigate potential connections to child trafficking networks.

In Maranhão, the search for siblings Ágatha Isabelly, 6, and Allan Michael, 4, who disappeared in January 2026 from a quilombola community in Bacabal, has expanded into an international investigation involving Interpol and the Brazilian Federal Police. While the family noted a physical resemblance between a rescued child in Florida and Allan Michael, the Federal Police have clarified that, according to U.S. authorities, “no Brazilian children were among those located” in the Florida operation.

To facilitate the search, the children’s mother, Clarice Cardoso, has provided genetic material in São Luís for DNA testing. The Federal Police are moving to include the siblings in Interpol’s Yellow Notice to assist in international cooperation and potential repatriation if they are located outside of Brazil.

## Claims

- The Federal Police stated that no Brazilian children were among the 163 rescued in Florida. (disputed by 17 sources)
- The family noted a physical resemblance between one of the rescued children in Florida and 4-year-old Allan Michael. (disputed by 10 sources)
- Ágatha Isabelly, 6, and Allan Michael, 4, disappeared on January 4, 2026, in a quilombola community in Maranhão, Brazil. (corroborated by 18 sources)
- Interpol and the Brazilian Federal Police are cooperating to assist in the search for the missing siblings. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- A police operation in Florida, USA, rescued 163 children and adolescents from human trafficking. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- Clarice Cardoso provided genetic material to the Federal Police to perform DNA testing. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- The Federal Police (PF) will request the inclusion of Ágatha Isabelly and Allan Michael in Interpol's Yellow Notice. (corroborated by 10 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-08: Interpol and Brazilian Police search for missing siblings after Florida trafficking rescue

The Brazilian Federal Police and Interpol are searching for two missing siblings from Maranhão following a major human trafficking rescue in Florida, using DNA testing to investigate potential links.

32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/interpol-assists-search-for-missing-brazilian-siblings-after-florida-rescue

### 2026-09-05: Brazilian Federal Police investigate missing child's potential link to U.S. rescue operation

Brazilian Federal Police are working with U.S. authorities to check if a child missing since March from Pará is among those rescued during a recent Florida law enforcement operation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-federal-police-investigate-missing-childs-potential-link-to-us-rescue-operation

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Cite as: Investigation into Brazilian children in Florida rescue. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/investigation-into-brazilian-children-in-florida-rescue