The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday suspended a search for a boat that allegedly transported about 20 people who did not return to Florida after traveling from the Bahamas.
Applicants traveled approximately 17,000 square miles between the Bahamas and South Florida for more than three days before ending the operation.
The boat left for Bahini in the Bahamas on Monday with a destination from Lake Worth, Florida. Lake Worth is about 63 miles north of Miami.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing people,” said Capt. Stephen Burdian, chief of response from the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, said. “I encourage anyone with information about the people on board to contact us as soon as possible.”
The Coast Guard has not identified any passengers, but there are believed to be about 20 people aboard the lost 29-foot vessel. The boat would arrive in Florida on Tuesday.
The boat, a Mako Cuddy Cabin vessel, is commonly used for recreation. The Coast Guard did not rule out the possibility that the boat was a smuggling vessel.
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“We do not know if it is,” Coast Guard Jose Hernandez told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Regardless, the Coast Guard is committed to the safety of all seafarers. We do not want any lives at sea to be lost.”
The Coast Guard conducted the search with the help of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.