Travel warning issued for popular spring break tropical destination over crime concerns

The U.S. State Department precocious issued a Level 2 question advisory, informing travelers to workout accrued caution successful the Turks and Caicos Islands owed to crime. 

The alert comes arsenic the islands hole for spring break visitors.

Most transgression successful the British Overseas Territory, located successful the Atlantic Ocean astir 600 miles southeast of Miami and conscionable southbound of Bermuda, occurs connected the Turk and Caicos' main land of Providenciales, and local police whitethorn person constricted investigatory resources, according to the State Department.

In January, an Illinois sheriff's deputy, Shamone Duncan, 50, was killed successful a shooting portion celebrating her sister's day successful Turks and Caicos.

A Turks and Caicos formation scene (Juliana Goodwin/For News-Leader)

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Gunfire broke retired extracurricular a edifice connected Grace Bay Road and 3 radical were shot, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force confirmed.

When connected the islands, the State Department recommends avoiding walking unsocial and astatine night, not answering the doorway unless the impermanent is expected, and not physically resisting during robbery attempts.

They besides counsel preparing a contingency program for exigency situations and enrolling successful the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provides alerts and makes it easier for authorities to find radical during an emergency.

Those vacationing successful the Turks and Caicos Islands should besides cheque luggage cautiously earlier leaving the U.S. to guarantee it does not incorporate immoderate bullets oregon firearms, which are illegal, according to the department. 

Many spring-breakers caput for tropical destinations. (iStock | Courtesy of idiosyncratic nito100)

Officials noted constabulary strictly enforce the weapons laws, adjacent astatine the airdrome erstwhile travelers are leaving. Travelers look arrest, jailhouse clip and dense fines. 

"Some U.S. citizens person been detained and incapable to depart for respective weeks oregon much aft being recovered with bullets successful their luggage," according to the warning. 

Offenders look 12 oregon much years successful prison.

"Though the instrumentality allows for immoderate exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot warrant your release," according to the department.

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Ryan Watson arrives astatine tribunal successful Turks and Caicos with his wife, Valerie Watson, connected June 21, 2024. Watson was 1 of 5 American citizens detained for possessing ammunition successful the land nation. (Jonathan Franks/LUCID Strategies)

Multiple Americans were arrested successful the state successful 2024 aft allegedly unknowingly having ammunition oregon bullets successful their luggage portion traveling backmost to the U.S.

Two fathers, Ryan Watson and Tyler Wenrich, were some arrested and detained successful April aft Turks and Caicos airdrome information recovered bullets successful their luggage portion they were returning from their vacations connected the island. 

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The U.S. Embassy Nassau, located successful the Bahamas, provides consular services (including assistance to victims of crime) for U.S. citizens successful the Turks and Caicos Islands.