Fifth American Tourist Arrested with Ammo in Turks and Caicos

An American tourist has been arrested in the Turks and Caicos islands after authorities discovered ammunition in their luggage. This is the fifth American tourist to be detained for such an “ammo accident” in Turks and Caicos over the last six months, contributing to a growing trend of Americans being arrested abroad for illegally carrying ammunition. Here’s the full story.

Fifth American Tourist Arrested with Ammo in Turks and Caicos

On May 15, 2024, authorities detained an American citizen at Howard Hamilton International Airport. The airport is the main point of entry into Turks and Caicos, a territory consisting of 40 islands in the Atlantic Ocean owned by the United Kingdom.

While authorities didn’t disclose the American’s identity, local media outlets have reported that it’s a woman.

Civilians are prohibited from possessing guns and ammo in Turks and Caicos. The territory has strict gun control laws. While travelers with ammo could previously pay a fine, they now face a mandatory minimum of 12 years in prison. The US Embassy issued a warning for travelers to check bags for errant ammo.

Previous Arrests

This mystery woman is the fifth American tourist who has been arrested for having ammunition in Turks and Caicos in the last six months.

Previously, Michael Lee Evans, Bryan Hagerich, Tyler Scott Wenrich, and Ryan Tyler Watson were arrested in separate incidents. The four men are facing criminal charges in Turks and Caicos. If they’re found guilty, they could face up to 12 years in prison. These Americans had a combined 33 rounds of ammunition in their travel bags.

Michael Lee Evans of Texas was kicked off the “Americans arrested with ammo” trend in December.

In an ironic twist, Tyler Wenrich’s trial started this week. The Virginia native said the ammo in his bag had been left there after a deer hunting trip.

Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, has already pleaded guilty to having 20 rounds of ammo in his bag.

Ryan Watson, of Oklahoma City, was the most recent American arrested. Authorities took Watson into custody just over a month ago when they discovered a ziploc bag containing ammunition in his luggage.

None of the Americans arrested, including this recent woman, have had any firearms in their bags. None of them intended to bring the ammo to the islands, either, and say that it was an honest mistake.

The Bottom Line

It definitely feels like the media is amplifying this trend to get clicks. However, it does illustrate how easy it is to make a simple mistake and end up with serious repercussions.

To avert this type of situation in your own life, avoid using the same backpack bag for air travel and range trips. I find leftover cartridges in my range bags all the time. When I do, it’s a happy accident – like finding a $10 bill you left in a coat pocket.

Range bags are also covered in gunpowder (unless you wash them). That’s only going to draw even more attention if you’re using the bag for travel.

Long story short, have separate bags for range days and air travel. Hopefully, we’ve seen the last American tourist detained over ammo in a foreign country for a while.