Another American traveler was apprehended at the Turks and Caicos airport on Monday for concealing ammunition in their luggage. This incident occurred several weeks after the detention of an American tourist in the Caribbean territory, which attracted substantial media attention.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police informed CBS News that a visitor was detained at the Howard Hamilton International Airport yesterday [May 13] after ammunition was allegedly discovered during a routine security check. No additional information was provided by the police regarding the gender or identity of the apprehended individual.
The number of Americans facing charges for ammunition possession in British territory has now reached five as a result of Monday’s arrest. Four of the Americans who have been apprehended have admitted that they inadvertently transported ammunition.
In April, Ryan Watson, a 40-year-old father of two from Oklahoma, made national headlines when airport security discovered ammunition in his luggage. At present, he is being released on surety, but he will be required to remain on the island until the conclusion of his case. He is required to report to the Grace Bay Police Station for check-ins on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as mandated by officials. A mandatory minimum of twelve years in incarceration may be imposed.
Tyler Wenrich, a Virginia EMT and father, was apprehended prior to embarking on a cruise ship on April 20th, mere days following Watson’s arrest. He is currently facing a potential 12-year sentence after authorities allegedly discovered two cartridges in his luggage last month.
Jeriann Wenrich, his wife, stated to CBS News in April, “I feel like, as a very honest error, that 12 years is absurd.” She expressed her reluctance to witness her 18-month-old son grow up without a father.
After ammunition was discovered in the checked luggage of a Pennsylvania man in February, Bryan Hagerich, another American, is currently awaiting prosecution. I was incarcerated in their local penitentiary for eight nights as a consequence,” Hagerich stated to CBS News. “In all honesty, some of my most challenging and bleakest periods.”
Travelers were previously exempt from the requirement to pay a fine, despite the fact that it is now unlawful to possess a firearm or ammunition in Turks and Caicos. This changed in February, when a court order mandated that travelers could potentially be subject to mandatory prison time in addition to monetary penalties. The attorney general of the territory has indicated that the sentencing judge has the authority to impose a custodial sentence of less than 12 years if the court determines that exceptional circumstances occurred in connection with the discovery of ammunition.
Eight prosecutions for firearms and ammunition involving American visitors have been initiated on the island since November 2022.
The United States State Department issued a travel advisory in April, advising American travelers to Turks and Caicos to be cautious of “carelessly verifying their luggage before departing the United States for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons.”. The advisory also stated that “declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not confer authorization to convey the weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in your apprehension.”
The National Rifle Association issued a news release on Monday, advising U.S. gun owners to consider the actions of the Turks and Caicos Islands before embarking on a voyage to the Caribbean jurisdiction. “Gun owners from the United States who are confident in their ability to exhaustively inspect their luggage for potential contraband may wish to reevaluate the wisdom of investing their money in a jurisdiction that treats their compatriots in such a manner.”
