Americans are managing to pass US airport security with ammo in their hand luggage. The TSA doesn’t know how

Since February, five Americans have been arrested for illegally carrying ammunition from the US to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

They all boarded flights at US airports, apparently unwittingly carrying the live rounds onto planes in their hand luggage.

They all bypassed airport security and scanners during routine checks in their states’ respective airports.

And, to some concern, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can’t explain how.

The agency said that it was launching an investigation into each individual incident back in May after admitting that an “oversight” had occurred.

Now, two months on, the TSA tells The Independent that the probe is now over – and concluded it doesn’t know how the ammo got past security in American airports.

Pressed for information on three specific incidents, the agency simply cited reasons such as “not enough information” or “no video” footage to “make that determination”.

Under US regulation, ammunition is banned from being carried in carry-on bags, a TSA spokesperson confirmed to The Independent. It can be carried in checked luggage under specific conditions.

Meanwhile, in Turks and Caicos, which has far more stringent gun laws than in the US, those caught with a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon can face a prison sentence of 12 years.

Louisiana Rep Garret Graves, chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, told The Independent that it’s a “concern” that the TSA has no idea how American tourists are managing to accidentally take ammo onto flights unnoticed.

“Obviously ammunition by itself isn’t quite as dangerous as having it with a weapon; the gun is the larger concern,” he told The Independent.

“But yes, absolutely, it is a concern.”

In April, Virginia resident Tyler Wenrich, 31, said he unwittingly carried two 9mm rounds in his hand luggage when he flew to Miami for a Royal Caribbean cruise to Grand Turk.

He also carried his ammo through the cruiseliner’s security scanner. Royal Caribbean has declined to comment.

“I went through TSA at Richmond International Airport, Virginia, where my backpack was put through the security scanner,” he told The Independent.

He said…