A Georgia father’s family vacation to Jamaica has turned into a nightmare after authorities discovered 30 rounds of ammunition in his carry-on bag as he was preparing to fly home.
If this story sounds familiar, it should. In 2024, I wrote extensively about several American tourists who found themselves in serious legal trouble in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was discovered in their luggage. In many of those cases, the ammunition wasn’t caught by TSA in the United States. Instead, it was discovered by authorities as the travelers were preparing to leave Turks and Caicos.
Now, something very similar has happened in Jamaica, except the consequences could be even more severe. According to Atlanta’s 11Alive, Igor Andrusceak, a father of three and small-business owner from Athens, Georgia, says he accidentally left two loaded magazines containing a total of 30 rounds of ammunition in his carry-on backpack.
There was no gun in the bag. Andrusceak says he went through security at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and TSA somehow missed both loaded magazines. He and his family then boarded their flight to Jamaica without a problem.
It wasn’t until July 28, when the family was going through security in Montego Bay to return home, that Jamaican authorities discovered the ammunition. Andrusceak told 11Alive that he regularly uses the backpack, a Nomatic with numerous pockets, as his everyday bag. Before the trip, he says he specifically went through it because he knew he couldn’t travel with his gun or other prohibited items.
“I have a pocketknife I pulled that out of there,” he told 11Alive. “I pulled my gun out of there because that’s my everyday carry, so I put that all in my safe. I even pulled out the nail clippers because I didn’t want any issues going through TSA.” He thought the bag was empty. Unfortunately, he missed two magazines, each loaded with 15 rounds.
How did TSA miss 30 rounds of ammunition?
Obviously, Andrusceak made a huge mistake and he admits it. “I feel foolish,” he told 11Alive. But just like I asked when this happened repeatedly in Turks and Caicos, there’s another important question: How did TSA miss two loaded magazines containing 30 rounds of ammunition?
We’re not talking about one stray bullet that somehow slipped underneath the lining of a suitcase. According to Andrusceak, there were two magazines loaded with 15 rounds each in his carry-on backpack.
TSA is reportedly reviewing how the magazines may have passed through security in Atlanta, though the agency had not confirmed Andrusceak’s account when 11Alive published its report.
That’s an important part of this story. Travelers are responsible for what’s in their bags, but airport security is also supposed to detect prohibited items before passengers board an airplane.
His dream vacation quickly turned into a nightmare
Andrusceak told 11Alive that his family had saved for nearly two years for the trip, which was their first international vacation together. “We were excited,” he said. “We saved all year and the year before.” The vacation itself went beautifully. The nightmare began when the family tried to fly home from Montego Bay. His backpack was flagged during security screening and Jamaican authorities discovered the magazines.
“Oh my God, it was terrifying because I’m like, ‘How could I have missed that?’” he told 11Alive. At first, Andrusceak says he thought he had been given a warning and would be allowed to fly home. But authorities later detained him at the gate. He convinced his wife to fly home with their three children, including their 1-year-old daughter, believing he would be able to straighten everything out and follow them home. Instead, he was arrested.
Jamaica has extremely strict ammunition laws
This is where the story gets particularly scary. Jamaica has very strict firearms and ammunition laws and travelers cannot bring firearms or ammunition into the country without prior authorization.
According to 11Alive, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives warns that Jamaica’s 2022 firearms law can carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years for possession of even a single unauthorized cartridge. A U.S. concealed-carry permit doesn’t mean anything once you arrive in Jamaica and accidentally bringing ammunition with you isn’t necessarily a defense.
Andrusceak says his case was moved to Jamaica’s Gun Court and he was told he could face 15 years to life in prison if convicted. He described the moment the reality of the situation hit him. “The judge tearfully was like, ‘It’s a foolish law, but I can’t. I have to abide by our law, and I can only do 15 years minimum,’” Andrusceak told 11Alive.
Then came the thought no parent wants to have. “My 1-year-old — imagine her being 16 when I see her again. That was a very sobering moment.” I can’t even imagine what he’s going through. I don’t like to be gone for more than a day from my kids. 15 years is just cruel.
He was allowed to return to Georgia, but the case isn’t over
Fortunately, Andrusceak’s attorney was able to secure a bond of 500,000 Jamaican dollars, or roughly $3,200 USD, and he was permitted to return to Georgia while his case is pending. But this ordeal is far from over.
He expects he will have to return to Jamaica to face the charge and says he’s already borrowing money and selling possessions, including his motorcycle, to cover his legal expenses. “I’m fearful of going back,” he told 11Alive.
He hopes TSA screening records and airport surveillance video from Atlanta will help prove that he had no intention of smuggling ammunition into Jamaica. Whether that will make a difference under Jamaican law remains to be seen.
This is eerily similar to what happened in Turks and Caicos
This whole story immediately reminded me of the Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos in 2024. Five Americans were arrested in a matter of months after ammunition was discovered in their luggage. Most said the ammunition had been left behind accidentally and, remarkably, several made it through TSA screening in the United States before the ammunition was discovered overseas.
At the time, I wrote that while the travelers were unquestionably responsible for knowing what was inside their bags, the repeated TSA misses deserved far more attention. The same is true here.
Andrusceak admits he screwed up. There’s no getting around that. If you’re a gun owner, it’s your responsibility to know where your gun and ammunition are at all times, especially when traveling internationally. But TSA missing two loaded magazines containing 30 rounds in a carry-on bag is troubling too.
Gun owners should use a completely separate travel bag
I gave this advice after the Turks and Caicos arrests and this latest incident is another reason to repeat it. If you own a gun, don’t just double- or triple-check your bag before an international trip. Consider never using the same backpack, duffel or suitcase for travel that you use to carry or store guns and ammunition.
Bags have hidden compartments, mesh pockets, seams and folds where ammunition can easily be overlooked. You might think you’ve checked every pocket only to discover that you missed something.
And don’t assume that because you made it through TSA in the United States that you’re in the clear. As this case and the Turks and Caicos incidents demonstrate, TSA can miss things.
Once you’re in another country, you’re subject to that country’s laws, not U.S. laws. Your concealed-carry permit won’t protect you and saying it was an accident may not keep you out of jail.
That’s why travelers, especially gun owners, need to know the laws of their destination and carefully inspect every inch of their luggage before leaving home.
A mistake that might result in a confiscation or fine somewhere else could potentially cost you years of your freedom. Let’s just hope this Georgia father gets off with just a fine.
