American tourist faces at least 15 years in prison for ammunition left in luggage

An American tourist is facing a potential lengthy prison sentence in Jamaica after two loaded ammunition magazines were allegedly found in his luggage.

Igor Andrusceak, of Athens, Georgia, was vacationing in Jamaica with his wife and three children when the magazines were reportedly discovered at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on July 28.

The two magazines allegedly contained 15 rounds each, for a total of 30 rounds of ammunition.

Andrusceak told Atlanta television station 11Alive that he had removed his handgun and other everyday items from his backpack before traveling but failed to notice that the magazines remained in a mesh compartment.

“I pulled my gun out of there because that’s my everyday carry, right? So, I put that all in my safe,” he said.

He said he also removed other items, including a pocketknife and nail clippers, from the backpack before leaving for Jamaica.

According to Andrusceak, the ammunition was not detected when the bag went through Transportation Security Administration screening in Atlanta.

He said airport security personnel in Jamaica pulled him aside after his backpack was screened and discovered the magazines. Andrusceak said he was initially given the impression that he would be allowed to continue his journey but was later detained at the Frontier Airlines gate as he prepared to return home.

He was arrested and taken to the Freeport police station in St. James, where he spent less than 24 hours in custody before appearing in court and being granted bail.

Andrusceak is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 29.

“I feel foolish,” he told 11Alive. “Like, you understand how bad I felt for making that mistake.”

Jamaica's strict firearms laws

The case highlights the severe penalties under Jamaica’s firearms laws, which apply to unauthorized possession of ammunition.

Under the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, unauthorized possession of a firearm or ammunition can result in life imprisonment if the matter is dealt with in the Circuit Court, which includes the High Court Division of the Gun Court.

Jamaica’s Court of Appeal has clarified that the sentence for unauthorized possession of a firearm or ammunition is mandatory life imprisonment, with the convicted person required to serve at least 15 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Recent cases illustrate the seriousness of the provision. In February, a St. Andrew man convicted of unauthorized possession of ammunition was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve 15 years before becoming eligible for parole.

For Andrusceak, however, no sentence has been imposed and he remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

His defense is expected to center, at least in part, on his account that the magazines were inadvertently left in his luggage after he removed his firearm before the trip.

Andrusceak told 11Alive that he did not intend to bring the ammunition to Jamaica and expressed regret over the oversight.

He also said prosecutors transferred the matter to Jamaica’s Gun Court because of the nature of the charge.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that an American citizen had been arrested in Jamaica and said U.S. Embassy personnel are assisting him.

“Americans are subject to the laws of the foreign countries they visit or reside in, even when those laws differ from U.S. law,” a State Department spokesperson said.

The department declined to provide additional details, citing privacy and other considerations, but encouraged Americans to research the laws of countries they plan to visit.

U.S. officials routinely warn travelers that foreign countries can impose significantly stricter penalties than those in the United States for firearms, ammunition, drugs and other prohibited items.

Andrusceak’s next court appearance on Oct. 29 is expected to provide the next indication of how the case will proceed.