CNN
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A bipartisan group of US lawmakers traveled to Turks and Caicos to press for the discharge of 5 Individuals detained on ammunition possession fees – however encountered resistance from officers on the island, the group introduced Monday.
The Individuals had been all arrested in current months within the British Abroad Territory, the place carrying firearms is prohibited, and resist a dozen years in jail. Every had the ammunition of their baggage “inadvertently,” the lawmakers mentioned in a press release.
Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin led the journey, which additionally was attended by Democratic Sen. John Fetterman and GOP Reps. Man Reschenthaler, Josh Brecheen, Michael Cloud and Bob Good. The lawmakers met with Turks and Caicos officers, together with the governor, legal professional basic, minister of tourism and police leaders, the assertion from Mullin’s workplace mentioned.
“Sadly, regardless of our willingness to work with Turks and Caicos officers to get our constituents house, we weren’t capable of finding a path ahead as we speak,” Mullin mentioned within the assertion. “At this level, well-intentioned Americans are going through a dozen years in jail all for unknowingly having one or two bullets of their baggage.”
“Ought to they obtain a jail sentence, we might want to contemplate extra actions to safeguard Americans.” Mullin mentioned.
The detained Individuals have been recognized as Sharitta Grier, 45; Michael Lee Evans, 72; Bryan Hagerich (no age listed); Tyler Scott Wenrich, 31; and Ryan Tyler Watson, 40.
Every is accused of bringing numerous quantities of ammunition to the chain of 40 islands within the tropical Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas.
Bringing firearms or ammunition, together with stray bullets, into Turks and Caicos with out prior permission from police is “strictly forbidden,” in accordance with a assertion from its authorities.
Individuals who violate the regulation face a minimal 12 years in jail, the US Embassy within the Bahamas mentioned in an April advisory. Judges can decrease the minimal sentence and alter fines when there are “distinctive circumstances,” the Turks and Caicos legal professional basic mentioned in a information launch earlier this month.
CNN’s Manu Raju, Fabiana Chaparro, Amanda Musa and Michael Rios contributed to this report.
