Story of Tourists Stranded and Facing Prison Sentence in Turks and Caicos Reads Like a Movie Script
Imagine going to a country on what you thought was going to be a dream vacation, only to be arrested there for a crime you didn't even know you committed. Not only is your vacation completely ruined, but you may not even get the chance to go home, as apparently what you did was so bad, it carries a more than 10-year prison sentence!
That may sound like a nightmare, but it's a nightmare that two real tourists, Ryan and Valerie Watson, are living out right now. Though Valerie is back stateside, Ryan is still stranded in Turks and Caicos, staring down the barrel of a long prison sentence, all for what they claim is an innocent mistake. Leslie Gaydos of NBC 10 Boston spoke to the couple to find out what they did to land themselves in this horrible situation.
Ryan Watson told @nbc10boston that his luggage contained some hunting rounds that he had forgotten to take out of his bag when flying to Turks and Caicos. According to NBC 10 Boston, the couple were actually at the airport ready to head back to America when airport security found the rounds in a Ziploc bag. This constituted a violation of the British Overseas Territory's strict gun and ammunition laws, and the couple was immediately arrested.
At the time of the video interview, both Valerie and Ryan were still stuck in Turks and Caicos, their passports confiscated and the couple unable to return home to their children. Both were charged with possession of ammunition and awaited their first court hearing. Since then, Valerie's charges have been dropped, and she has been allowed to return home to Oklahoma. Ryan, however, remains in Turks and Caicos awaiting a bail hearing. If convicted, he could face a minimum 12-year-long prison sentence.
"This is such an innocent mistake," wept Valerie Watson. "...this is going to ruin us."
"I would have never, ever intentionally brought- I had no reason to. We came here to vacation," Ryan emphatically defended himself.
A spokesperson from the US State Department responded after NBC 10 Boston reached out for comment: "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… If a traveler brings a firearm or ammunition into TCI, the U.S. Department of State will not be able to secure their release from custody. Travelers are subject to TCI laws and must follow local law enforcement procedures."
Avoiding the Same Terrible Mistake
One of the most nerve-wracking things about international travel is the all-too-real concern that you could unintentionally violate a strict law by bringing something you shouldn't have, something that may even be legal in your own country. I've even had to forgo over-the-counter medications on trips abroad because they were illegal at my destination.
In America, you are allowed to transport ammunition in checked baggage, though TSA rules dictate that you must pack rounds in a box designed for ammunition. What might have been a slap on the wrist stateside could land Ryan Watson more than a decade in prison in a foreign country, all for a simple mistake.
If you break the law in another country, even unintentionally, the US State Department may not be able to bring you back home. For that reason, you should always be meticulous about packing for an international trip. Search every pocket, nook, and cranny of your bags before packing to ensure there's nothing left in there. When in doubt, check your destination on the US DOS Travel website to find out what you can and cannot bring.
I wish the best of luck to the Watson family, and Ryan in particular. It's hard to believe that such a simple oversight has the potential to ruin a person's life.
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