TURKS AND CAICOS – A man from Oklahoma is facing twelve years in prison after a family flight leaving Turks and Caicos went horribly awry, with authorities at the islands’ airport reportedly finding a few stray rounds of ammunition inside the travelers’ luggage upon arrival which led to his arrest.
On April 12, Ryan and Valerie Watson were boarding a flight back to the United States from the Turks and Caicos Islands, where the couple had traveled to in order to celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday. However, upon the couple’s baggage being checked prior to boarding the flight, airport security reportedly found four stray rounds of ammunition in one of their bags, leading to the couple being arrested.
Turks and Caicos are a series of islands located southeast of the Bahamas and are recognized as a British Overseas Territory. Aside from being known as a tourist hotspot, the islands are also known for their strict laws prohibiting firearms and ammunition.
Back in September of 2023, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a travel advisory to Americans to not bring any firearms or ammunition to the Turks and Caicos Islands and stressed the importance of screening luggage carefully for “stray ammunition or forgotten weapons” due to the criminal penalties American tourists could face.
“We strongly encourage you to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing for TCI," the advisory read. "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.”
According to a GoFundMe established for the Watson family, it appears as though the family accidentally committed this very sort of mistake the Embassy warned about, with Ryan Watson believing the stray rounds found in their luggage were left over “from a deer hunting trip” taken some time ago in Texas.
On April 23, Valerie Watson was released from custody without charges and has since reunited with her two children in the United States, the same cannot be said for her husband, Ryan, though. As of April 24, Ryan Watson was able to make bail and is no longer in custody, but he is still required to remain on the islands while the case makes its way through the courts.
Following his release from custody, Ryan Watson was able to speak to a CBS News affiliate about the ongoing ordeal, terrified at the prospect of spending over a decade in a foreign prison for what he claims to have been an “innocent” mistake.
“I can't even begin to think that this very innocent, regrettable mistake would prevent me from being able to watch my son graduate or teach him to shave or take my daughter to dances," he said. "It's just unfathomable. I do not — I can't process it.”
A State Department spokesperson issued a statement regarding the matter, saying, “We are aware of the arrest of U.S. citizens in Turks and Caicos. 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.”
On April 12, Ryan and Valerie Watson were boarding a flight back to the United States from the Turks and Caicos Islands, where the couple had traveled to in order to celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday. However, upon the couple’s baggage being checked prior to boarding the flight, airport security reportedly found four stray rounds of ammunition in one of their bags, leading to the couple being arrested.
Turks and Caicos are a series of islands located southeast of the Bahamas and are recognized as a British Overseas Territory. Aside from being known as a tourist hotspot, the islands are also known for their strict laws prohibiting firearms and ammunition.
Back in September of 2023, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a travel advisory to Americans to not bring any firearms or ammunition to the Turks and Caicos Islands and stressed the importance of screening luggage carefully for “stray ammunition or forgotten weapons” due to the criminal penalties American tourists could face.
“We strongly encourage you to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing for TCI," the advisory read. "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.”
According to a GoFundMe established for the Watson family, it appears as though the family accidentally committed this very sort of mistake the Embassy warned about, with Ryan Watson believing the stray rounds found in their luggage were left over “from a deer hunting trip” taken some time ago in Texas.
On April 23, Valerie Watson was released from custody without charges and has since reunited with her two children in the United States, the same cannot be said for her husband, Ryan, though. As of April 24, Ryan Watson was able to make bail and is no longer in custody, but he is still required to remain on the islands while the case makes its way through the courts.
Following his release from custody, Ryan Watson was able to speak to a CBS News affiliate about the ongoing ordeal, terrified at the prospect of spending over a decade in a foreign prison for what he claims to have been an “innocent” mistake.
“I can't even begin to think that this very innocent, regrettable mistake would prevent me from being able to watch my son graduate or teach him to shave or take my daughter to dances," he said. "It's just unfathomable. I do not — I can't process it.”
A State Department spokesperson issued a statement regarding the matter, saying, “We are aware of the arrest of U.S. citizens in Turks and Caicos. 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.”
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Comments
2024-04-27T06:29-0400 | Comment by: Greg
It was an honest mistake and should be delt with as a misdemeanor or infraction with a fine and time served. This would set an example otherwise no U.S. citizens should travel to Turks and Caicos. Simple they lose the tourism or more importantly the revenue generated from it.