ST. LUCIE INLET, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard said they have suspended the search for five people who were in a capsized boat off the St. Lucie Inlet.
According to reports, the vessel capsized on Friday, and one of the people aboard was able to alert authorities about the situation.
The Coast Guard quickly mobilized to conduct search and rescue operations in the area. Despite the successful rescue of four people, the Coast Guard confirmed that five other people were still unaccounted for.
Coast Guard crews used air and surface assets to cover a wide area in their effort to locate missing persons but suspended the search Monday afternoon.
The vessel was part of a suspected failed smuggling venture, according to the Coast Guard.
"If there had just been a trooper up there, maybe this whole thing could have been avoided."
A judge in Florida is sharing the story of his son's death in hopes of helping the Florida Highway Patrol trooper shortage.