PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos – Two bullets found in luggage at an airport in the Turks and Caicos led to an Orlando woman’s arrest this week, police say.
Sharitta Grier, 45, was arrested on Monday at the Howard Hamilton International Airport in Providenciales, after police say two rounds of ammunition were found during a routine luggage search.
Police say Grier was charged with one count of possession of ammunition and remanded into custody.
At least five Americans in recent months have been arrested for possession of ammo charges in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is a British Overseas Territory. The U.S. State Department says TCI has a mandatory minimum custodial sentence of 12 years for possession of a gun, ammunition, or other weapon.
The U.S. Embassy In The Bahamas issued a travel warning in Sept. 2023 and again last month, urging travelers to check luggage to make sure there was no stray ammunition or forgotten weapons.
“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 and will result in your arrest,” the warning said.
The statement also says if a traveler brings a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even on accident, the U.S. State Dept. will not be able to secure the traveler’s release.
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