Biden’s TSA must answer why it failed to find ‘prohibited items’ in luggage before five Americans were detained in Turks and Caicos
After several Americans were arrested in Turks in the Caicos Islands for entering the country with stray bullets in their luggage, G.O.P The senator is investigating American security officials at airports.
This year, At least five Americans have been arrested in the Caribbean country after trying to go through security with ‘prohibited items’, including ammunition, in their bags.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are very strict on ammunition charges, which carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
Some Americans have been released and allowed to return to the US. however, only three are still facing charges.
As a result, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), first obtained by DailyMail.com, demanding to know more about their “failure” to discover the bullets, which he says “raises serious concerns about TSA’s ability to accomplish this critical security mission.” ‘
“I am writing today to request information regarding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening procedures,” the Republican wrote to the agency’s administrator, David Pekoske.
“As you know, five Americans, including Ryan Watson of Edmond, Oklahomahave been detained in the Turks and Caicos Islands this year after ammunition was discovered in their luggage as they passed through security checkpoints on the islands.”
“It is my understanding that each of these individuals successfully passed TSA screenings, but TSA personnel were unable to identify these items during passenger screening.”
“TSA’s failure in these five cases raises serious concerns about TSA’s ability to accomplish this critical security mission.”
Watson, the Oklahoman trapped on the island, was arrested after shots were fired discovered in his bag while trying to fly from the province to the US. He was arrested on April 12.
His wife Valerie was also arrested at the time. The couple was in Turks and Caicos to celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday.
Ryan Watson of Edmond, Oklahoma, has been in custody since his April 12 arrest
Ryan Watson, pictured here in a mugshot taken by Turks and Caicos Islands authorities
Ryan Watson (left), Sharitta Greig (center) and Bryan Hagerich (right) in TCI as they wait for authorities to rule on their verdict. Hagerich has now been allowed to return to the US after paying a fine
Valerie was released on April 23 and allowed to return to the US
Ryan has posted $15,000 bail, is awaiting sentencing and is still not allowed to leave the country until a verdict or deal is reached.
‘Their lives were turned upside down as they attempted to return home, when local airport security found four rounds of ammunition unknowingly left in a duff[le]bag from a deer hunt,” says a GoFundMe page from the Watsons.
‘It was not noticed by TSA when leaving America. Now they are confronted with a legal system that is unfamiliar, intimidating and expensive and that functions differently from the American legal system.’
In late May, Ryan Watson admitted to having ammunition in his bag.
The Oklahoman also made a friend during his captivity: Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, who was also discovered with bullets in his luggage.
Hagerich was given a sentence that forced him to pay a large fine before being allowed to return home – and Watson has said he hopes for a similar outcome, although he is not certain he will get one.
‘There are many similarities between all cases. However, they are all nuanced,” Watson told the Oklahoma-based company KOCO. “Consistency has been the biggest concern for everyone.”
He added that he is in close contact with Hergeich.
“We still FaceTime two to three times a day,” Watson told the outlet. “That’s a relationship that will last with me for the rest of my life.”
Another American, Virginia resident Tyler Wenrich, 31, is also charged with possession of ammunition. He was arrested on April 23 while trying to escape.
He was also released on a $15,000 bond while he awaits the next steps in his trial.
Additionally, 45-year-old Sharitta Greir, a Florida woman, was arrested in May for having two bullets in her purse.
She is also awaiting developments in her process during her stay on the island.
Sen. James Lankfrod, R-Olka., demands answers from TSA about how they overlooked the bullets in Americans’ bags as they left the US
TSA is charged with screening passengers’ luggage to ensure that prohibited items, such as bullets, do not end up on planes in the US
Watson and his wife Valerie during a holiday in Turks and Caicos
The couple traveled to the island for a friend’s 40th birthday
Lankford’s letter to TSA continued: “The five Americans in each of these separate cases were hoping to get home when Turks and Caicos transportation security discovered stray ammunition; instead, they were arrested and detained abroad.”
“While two Americans have since been released and another has been allowed to return to the US temporarily for medical reasons, Ryan and two other Americans remain incarcerated in the Turks and Caicos Islands and remain separated from their families and friends.”
“These Americans could face up to 12 years in prison under the Turks and Caicos Firearms Act.”
The Americans Lankford references are Watson, Greir and Wenrich.
Lankford requested a response from TSA by July 10.
