Provided said citizens belong to the cult of DEI/woke/liberal commie/anti Christ.
All others? The globalists are preparing nice retirement homes for you.
Posted on 04/23/2024 11:08:17 PM PDT by billorites
The U.S. State Department is warning travelers about strict new laws in Turks and Caicos Islands that carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years for bringing guns or ammunition to the island.
An Oklahoma woman was reunited Tuesday with her young children after being detained for almost two weeks in Turks and Caicos Islands for allegedly violating their strict guns and ammunition law. Her husband is being held in the British Overseas Territory near the Bahamas.
Ryan and Valerie Watson, who live in Oklahoma, left for Turks and Caicos Islands on April 7 to celebrate the 40th birthdays of Ryan and two friends. When they went through security for their return flight, their carry-on was flagged and searched and officials found a Ziploc bag of bullets.
"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer," said Ryan, "and I recognized them and I thought, oh man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there."
The two shared their story virtually with NBC10 Boston last week before their first court hearing. They were stuck on the island, their passports confiscated, separated from their young son and daughter.
"When I heard that, I immediately was terrified because I was like, we can't both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home. And this is such an innocent mistake that we didn't even know we weren't– we didn't even know it was there. So yeah, my immediate thought was our kids and them being, you know, parentless for, for that long," Valerie said.
The Watsons were questioned and charged with possession of ammunition. In 2022, Turks and Caicos passed an amendment with stiffer penalties for possession of weapons or ammunition, increasing the mandatory minimum prison sentence to 12 years.
Last September, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a travel alert warning Americans after a tourist from Indiana got an eight-month prison sentence for possession of ammunition.
The alert says: "We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into TCI [Turks and Caicos Islands] and will result in your arrest.
"We strongly encourage you to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing for TCI. If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, we will not be able to secure your release from custody. You are subject to TCI laws and must follow local law enforcement procedures," the alert continued.
Bryan Hagerich was detained by Turks and Caicos authorities after a family vacation in February when hunting ammunition was found in his luggage before he boarded a flight home. He said the ammunition was found in a bag he frequently used for weekend hunting trips.
"I've been here for almost 70 days now after posting bail. I've been out, right now just waiting to go to the hearing. That's where my case would be heard, then following that would be sentencing," Hagerich said.
Hagerich, who played baseball professionally and was once drafted by the Florida Marlins, lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two young kids. He spent eight days in prison before posting bail and is awaiting a May 3 court hearing.
"It's incredibly scary. You know, you just don't know what the next day may bring. You know, what path this may take. You know, you're in a completely different culture, a different country by yourself. You know, it's certainly a lot different than packing your bags and going away with your family for a few days. It's been the worst 70 days of my life," Hagerich said.
He and the Watsons are also dealing with the financial strain of paying for an extended stay and being away from their jobs.
"We've already talked, and we're like, what if, you know, what if we lose our house? Which, when we moved to Oklahoma, we built a home that we thought was our forever home. And to think that this is going to ruin us..." said an emotional Valerie.
"This is something that we may never recover from," Ryan said.
"I'm just very anxious, eager to get home to my family," said Hagerich. "This has been too long. You know, it's just had so much irreparable harm to my family, that, you know, I just can't continue to see them struggle anymore. I just want to hug my family and start this healing process together."
After their hearing yesterday, Ryan was sent to jail and is awaiting a bail hearing Wednesday. Charges were dropped for Valerie on Monday and she is now back in Oklahoma with her two children.
The judges in Turks and Caicos Islands are able to make exceptions to the mandatory minimum sentence if they determine there are "exceptional circumstances" in a case.
NBC10 Boston reached out to the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands' tourism bureau about the Watsons' situation and have not heard back. We contacted the State Department and a spokesperson told NBC10 Boston they are aware of the arrest of U.S. citizens in Turks and Caicos and that, "The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas."
The spokesperson added, "When a U.S. citizen is arrested overseas, we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. In a foreign country, U.S. citizens are subject to that country's laws, even if they differ from those in the United States… As our security alert from September 22, 2023 states, in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), firearms, ammunition, and other weapons are not permitted. TCI authorities strictly enforce all firearms related laws. The penalty for traveling to TCI with a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon is a minimum custodial sentence of twelve (12) years. If a traveler brings a firearm or ammunition into TCI, the U.S. Department of State will not be able to secure their release from custody. Travelers are subject to TCI laws and must follow local law enforcement procedures."
The State Department said they are unable to provide the number of U.S. citizens charged with weapon/ammunition possession since the department is unable to track local arrests.
“I’ve been here for almost 70 days now after posting bail.”
Is he on the island out on bail? Seems like someone should be able to get him out of there at 3am on a plane or yacht. These pricks suckle the American teat and then act extremist when a guy made an innocent mistake. Fine him and let him go.
Does it matter the ammo was for this? Runs through it fast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma4pa3DqA1s
“The U.S. State Department is warning travelers about strict new laws in Turks and Caicos Islands that carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years for bringing guns or ammunition to the island.”
What do people expect from Turkey?
My carryon backpack never sees firearms or ammo for this reason. Totally separate bag. Or knives.
Solution: never, ever go there!
Working vacation in a third world nation.
This is not Turkey.
Decades ago I was going through the process and had a waterproof box with cigars and a plug cutter that was just an empty case from a 7.62 x 54 and the primer was removed. The inspector clueso of the totally stupid a$$}{0£€$ hauled Me off to the side for a 25 minute Q&A because of it.
While I'm going through that I watched 4 ragheads stroll through the checkpoint with out even slowing down...
Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your laugh of the day.
Provided said citizens belong to the cult of DEI/woke/liberal commie/anti Christ.
All others? The globalists are preparing nice retirement homes for you.
......I lived in the Caribbean part of 2012 and all of 2013. I stayed for months at a time on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. Maarten.
The weapon of choice for the “natives” down there is a machete. An artist, who was an American, got chopped up on St. Croix. He lived about a mile from me. After that, I went to St. Maarten. A couple from South Carolina got chopped up by their own “security” guards. A lady friend of mine got robbed at the point of an AK 47 sitting at a table in a well known beachfront restaurant. Minutes later, a machine gun battle broke out between police and the robbers. Several dead.
Guns are legal to own in the US Virgin Islands but the cops sell your information, including your address, to local gangs who drop by at 3 am and steal your guns if not kill you.
The best thing to do about the Caribbean is stay away. You are playing Russian Roulette when you go there.
Turkey (the nation) was not mentioned in the article. The Turk Islands, situated in the Caribbean, were mentioned. They are two completely different places.
Somehow I just don’t feel sorry for them. The USA is one of the most gun friendly places in the world where we can travel through most states with all the ammo we can hold, to include a gun to shoot it.
These boneheads should have had the brains to check the laws of other countries and be certain they had nothing that could get them in trouble.
We live just a few miles from Canada. Simply taking a spent 22 casing across the border will get you into trouble. Before going to Canada I do a complete search of my own vehicle just to look for ammo and spent casings.
These morons are learning a valuable lesson in travel outside the US.
“The best thing to do about the Caribbean is stay away.”
When I cruise, I don’t even get off the ship anymore. The Caribbean is horrible. I only cruise to get away from work. I’m on call 24x7 and it’s the only vacation I know where they can’t recall me.
For sure.
The government is such liars.
Take the Midnight Express!
Forget it, he’s rolling!
Even in the US you need to be careful with some states. MA has ridiculous laws about even carrying ammo, which could be a problem for NH residents who often carry all kinds of stuff.
Often, we stay onboard while in port, except sometimes we have bought meds if a pharmacy is right at the pier. (Would never do that again with the fentanyl issue now.)
That’s the best time to be on the ship, since the majority of people are off in the filthy towns.
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