Fifth American Tourist Arrested in Turks and Caicos for Ammunition Possession

Governors urge leniency as US travelers face severe penalties for carrying ammunition in the Caribbean territory.

Sharitta Shinese Grier, 45, was detained at Howard Hamilton International Airport after ammunition was found in her luggage.
Four other Americans have been arrested on similar charges since February, all claiming they brought the ammunition by mistake.
The minimum sentence for ammunition possession in Turks and Caicos is 12 years, though judges can reduce it in exceptional circumstances.
Governors from Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have asked the Turks and Caicos government to reconsider the charges and expedite the release of the detained Americans.
The US State Department has issued a travel advisory warning Americans to thoroughly check their luggage for ammunition before traveling to the region.