Search Suspended For Child, Suspected Smuggler Off Florida Coast

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for a missing a child and a suspected migrant smuggler in the waters off Florida's east coast.

The nine-year-old child from Haiti and the Bahamian national were among 11 people aboard an 18-foot boat that capsized Sunday during an apparent migrant smuggling venture. A good Samaritan found nine people in the water roughly 45 miles east of the Palm Beach County coast, about halfway between Freeport in the Bahamas and Jupiter.

The search was suspended Wednesday evening after 69 hours. Coast Guard crews searched over 4,100 square miles by air and by sea.

Capt. Aldante Vinciguerra said the search was a reminder of the "reckless regard" smuggling networks have for the migrants they are transporting.