From Caribbean360

The United States Coast Guard says rescue crews have ended a massive four-day search in the Caribbean Sea for possible survivors of an “overdue illegal migrant boat” reportedly transporting a group of 14 Dominican Republic nationals.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Wednesday December 11, 2013, CMC – The United States Coast Guard says rescue crews have ended a massive four-day search in the Caribbean Sea for possible survivors of an “overdue illegal migrant boat” reportedly transporting a group of 14 Dominican Republic nationals to Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard said it had received multiple phone calls last weekend from concerned family members reporting that the migrant vessel was overdue since Sunday, December 1, when it failed to arrive to Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico after having departed from the southern coast of the Dominican Republic earlier in the week.

“While the fate of people may never be known or what happened to them, our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time,” said Capt. Drew Pearson, Sector San Juan commander.

“While our search is over, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure those who endanger so many lives by attempting to make a perilous journey across the Mona Passage in unseaworthy and grossly overloaded boats are held accountable for their actions,” he added.

The Coast Guard said its search and rescue crews searched more than 76 hours during eight air and seven surface searches with multiple aircraft and cutters covering about 39,000 square nautical miles within a search area that comprised the waters of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea.

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