An American woman faces serious legal consequences in the Turks and Caicos Islands following allegations of bringing ammunition into the territory.
Sharitta Shinise Grier, hailing from Orlando, Florida, was charged with ammunition possession on May 14.
The incident unfolded at Howard Hamilton International Airport where authorities claimed to have discovered the contraband during a routine search.
Subsequently, Grier was remanded to prison pending a sufficiency hearing set for July 5.
Repeated incidents with U.S. citizens
This case adds to a growing list of U.S. citizens entangled in legal issues over similar accusations in Turks and Caicos.
On April 12, Ryan Tyler Watson of Oklahoma faced arrest at the same airport after officials found bullets in his luggage.
Watson asserted the presence of the bullets was an unintentional error, explaining they were overlooked remnants from a hunting trip.
He secured his release on a US$15,000 bail.
It was also reported that on April 23, Tyler Scott Wenrich, a Virginia resident, was charged when ammunition was reportedly found on him as he passed through a security checkpoint in Grand Turk.
Wenrich was traveling on a cruise ship at the time of the discovery.
He was brought before a magistrate on April 24 and is currently held at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation until his June 7 sufficiency hearing.
Strict laws and penalties
The recent string of incidents highlights the strict enforcement of Turks and Caicos’ new laws against illegal firearms and ammunition possession.
These laws pose a risk of over a decade in jail for those found guilty.
