Sixty missing children have been rescued from a human trafficking ring following a covert sting across multiple counties in Florida, authorities announced.

The kids, aged 9 to 17-years-old, were all recovered from the Tampa Bay area in an operation led by the US Marshals Office for the Middle District of Florida.

A number of young girls who were rescued in the operation earlier this month were pregnant, authorities said.

Eight people - five men, two women and one unknown - were arrested in connection to the alleged kidnapping ring and were charged with human trafficking, child endangerment, narcotics possession, and custodial interference.

'The real heroes behind this operation are the law enforcement who built and executed this mission. As your Attorney General and a father of three young kids, protecting children is my top priority,' Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Monday.