An Oklahoma man faces up to 12 years in prison on a Caribbean island after customs officials found ammunition in his luggage.
Ryan Watson traveled to Turks and Caicos with his wife, Valerie, to celebrate his 40th birthday on April 7. They went with two friends who had also turned 40.
The vacation came to an abrupt end when airport staff members found a zip-close bag containing bullets in the couple's carry-on luggage. Watson said it was hunting ammunition he had accidentally brought with him — but under a strict law in Turks and Caicos, a court may still impose a mandatory 12-year sentence.
"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer," Watson told NBC Boston in an interview conducted last week that aired after their first court appearance Tuesday.
"I recognized them, and I thought, 'Oh, man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there,'" he said.
The couple were arrested and charged with possession of ammunition. Authorities seized their passports and explained the penalties they faced.
U.S. tourist faces 12 years in prison after taking ammunition to Turks and Caicos
Ryan Watson traveled to the popular vacation spot with his wife to celebrate his 40th birthday. The vacation came to an abrupt end when airport staffers found bullets in the couple’s carry-on luggage.
www.nbcnews.com
What's crazy is that US security missed this! So much for that lol.
The ammo was found in Turks and Caico customs coming back.
My question, how stupid can you be? Traveling is a very serious thing, check your damn bags. You're going to a foreign country. It's not a joke. Even on vacation. How do you just have ammo in your carryon of all things?!