Paradise Lost: Another American Arrested in Turks and Caicos for Ammo in Bag

One other American vacationer was arrested at Howard Hamilton Worldwide Airport in Turks and Caicos on Monday after ammunition was allegedly discovered of their baggage throughout a routine safety verify, in keeping with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police and Breitbart. This newest arrest brings the whole variety of Individuals dealing with expenses for ammunition possession within the British territory to 5.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police didn’t disclose the identify or gender of the particular person arrested, however NBC 10 Boston reported that the vacationer was a girl. This arrest occurred as U.S. vacationer Tyler Wenrich was in courtroom dealing with related expenses. Wenrich was detained on April 20 after Royal Caribbean safety found two bullets in his bag when he reboarded the ship following a day tour on Grand Turk.

Wenrich’s case is progressing rapidly. His father reported that the decide had obtained an expedited timeline for the case from the chief justice, with written arguments due inside seven days and oral arguments and a plea listening to set for subsequent Tuesday. Sentencing may happen by Could 28.

Three different American males, Michael Lee Evans of Texas, Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, and Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, are additionally dealing with expenses for possessing ammunition in Turks and Caicos. Evans was arrested in December, Hagerich in February and Watson in early April. Every has claimed the ammunition was introduced into the nation by mistake.

The penalties underneath Turks and Caicos’ strict weapons and ammunition legal guidelines are extreme, with the potential for 12-year jail sentences, although judges can take into account distinctive circumstances. All 5 detained Individuals insist the incidents had been harmless errors, but the authorized system in Turks and Caicos is treating these circumstances with utmost seriousness.

For U.S. vacationers, this sequence of arrests underscores the important significance of completely checking baggage for prohibited gadgets earlier than flying to overseas locations or avoiding overseas locations altogether.