Saturday, 13 Haitian immigrants were found aboard a disabled boat off the coast of Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, informed Sheriff Ken Mascara.

Following engine problems, the boat anchored near Buoy 10A southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet, when the sheriff’s Marine Unit and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission arrived after 10:40 a.m.

"The Marine Unit observed 13 people who appeared to be Haitian on board the boat and requested the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard," explained Mascara.

Boaters near the disabled boat, said they had seen passengers throw overboard items, but these items have not been identified or found, indicated the Sheriff.

SL/ iciHaiti