Travel advisory issued by US government for Turks and Caicos Islands
Fox 8 Cleveland WJW
by: Celeste Houmard
Posted: Mar 7, 2025 / 07:05 AM EST
Updated: Mar 7, 2025 / 07:05 AM EST
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(WJW) – A level 2 travel advisory has been issued by the United States Department of State, warning travelers to “exercise increased caution” when traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime.
According to the advisory, most of the crime occurs in Providenciales, where police may have “limited investigatory resources.”
If you do have plans to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the advisory asks that tourists follow these guidelines:
According to the advisory, firearms and ammunition are illegal and these laws are strictly enforced by police.
“Travelers face arrest, jail time, and heavy fines,” the advisory said. “Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage. Offenders can face 12 years or more in prison. Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release.”
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Travel warning issued for popular spring break tropical destination over crime concerns
Tyler Wenrich discusses the Turks and Caicos law that had him facing a minimum 12-year sentence for having two stray bullets in his luggage after his return home.
The U.S. State Department recently issued a Level 2 travel advisory, warning travelers to exercise increased caution in the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime.
The alert comes as the islands prepare for spring break visitors.
Most crime in the British Overseas Territory, located in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 600 miles southeast of Miami and just south of Bermuda, occurs on the Turk and Caicos’ main island of Providenciales, and local police may have limited investigatory resources, according to the State Department.
In January, an Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Shamone Duncan, 50, was killed in a shooting while celebrating her sister’s birthday in Turks and Caicos.
A Turks and Caicos beach scene (Juliana Goodwin/For News-Leader)
AMERICANS ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS BUNK, PRAY TOGETHER WHILE AWAITING SENTENCINGS: ‘A BIG FAMILY’
Gunfire broke out outside a restaurant on Grace Bay Road and three people were shot, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force confirmed.
When on the islands, the State Department recommends avoiding walking alone and at night, not answering the door unless the guest is expected, and not physically resisting during robbery attempts.
They also advise preparing a contingency plan for emergency situations and enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provides alerts and makes it easier for authorities to find people during an emergency.
Those vacationing in the Turks and Caicos Islands should also check luggage carefully before leaving the U.S. to ensure it does not contain any bullets or firearms, which are illegal, according to the department.
Many spring-breakers head for tropical destinations. (iStock | Courtesy of user nito100)
Officials noted police strictly enforce the weapons laws, even at the airport when travelers are leaving. Travelers face arrest, jail time and heavy fines.
“Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage,” according to the warning.
Offenders face 12 or more years in prison.
“Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release,” according to the department.
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Ryan Watson arrives at court in Turks and Caicos with his wife, Valerie Watson, on June 21, 2024. Watson was one of five American citizens detained for possessing ammunition in the island nation. (Jonathan Franks/LUCID Strategies)
Multiple Americans were arrested in the country in 2024 after allegedly unknowingly having ammunition or bullets in their luggage while traveling back to the U.S.
Two fathers, Ryan Watson and Tyler Wenrich, were both arrested and detained in April after Turks and Caicos airport security found bullets in their luggage while they were returning from their vacations on the island.
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The U.S. Embassy Nassau, located in the Bahamas, provides consular services (including assistance to victims of crime) for U.S. citizens in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Alexandra Koch is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Prior to joining Fox News, Alexandra covered breaking news, crime, religion, and the military in the southeast.
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Most crime occurs in island territory’s Providenciales, officials say
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U.S. government warns about travel to sunny destination after arrest of 5 Americans
An overseas British territory sitting southeast of Miami and the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean, the 40 islands making up Turks and Caicos have long been considered to be an ultra-luxury destination alongside countries like the Maldives and the Seychelles.
With its remoteness and large number of tourists staying in high-end resorts, Turks and Caicos is overall a very safe destination to visit.
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That said, the U.S. State Department recently updated its advisory to warn of different types of crime that has been reported on Providenciales and other islands. The government re-issued the level two “exercise increased caution” advisory that is currently also held by countries like France, Germany and Mexico.
Related: This country just warned its citizens about travel to the US
“Exercise increased caution in the Turks and Caicos Islands due tocrime,” the travel warning reads. “Most crime occurs in Providenciales.”
While petty crime has been a consistent problem in larger settlements and common tourist areas across the islands, the country’s advisory has been updated to warn travelers about running afoul of local laws by bringing in things like drugs, weapons and ammunition.
In the spring of 2024, five Americans who had been preparing to fly out of Turks and Caicos were arrested after customs officers discovered a small number of bullets in their suitcases. While the tourists claimed they forgot it was in their bags after domestic travel and got away with fines after several months spent in detention, some faced the risk of up to 12 years behind bars.
“Police strictly enforce these laws, even at the airport when travelers are leaving,” the government warns. “Travelers face arrest, jail time, and heavy fines. Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage. […] Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release.”
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Travelers are also warned to watch and not leave their luggage unattended in order to avoid a situation in which someone places an unknown object into one’s bag. Other tips for staying safe provided by the government include not physically resisting robbery attempts and not opening one’s hotel or rental property door to unexpected visitors even if somebody knocks.
While the exact details may be country-specific (this advisory was prompted by the rise in ammunition-related arrests from tourists who did not account that laws would be different from back home), similar advisories about knowing and respecting local laws are also in place for common vacation destinations such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
The advisory further warns that the Turks and Caicos territory’s small size — the permanent population is recorded at just over 46,000 people — means that both local police and the U.S. government may have limited ability to provide assistance to citizens who run into trouble of all kinds while on holiday.
“Police may have limited investigatory resources,” it reads. “U.S. Embassy Nassau, located in The Bahamas, provides consular services (including assistance to victims of crime) for U.S. citizens in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
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