TSA must answer why it failed to find 'prohibited items' in luggage before five Americans were detained in Turks and Caicos

After several Americans were detained in Turks in Caicos for entering the country with stray bullets in their luggage, a top GOP senator is investigating U.S. airport security officials. 

This year, at least five Americans have been detained in the Caribbean country after trying to pass through security with 'prohibited items' including ammunition in their bags. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands are very strict about ammunition charges, which come with a penally of up to 12 years in prison. 

Some of the Americans have been released and allowed to return to the U.S., but three, however, are still facing charges. 

As a result, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) first obtained by DailyMail.com, demanding to know more about their 'failure' to discover the bullets, which he says 'raises serious concerns about TSA's ability to accomplish this critical security mission. '

'I write today to request information about the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) screening procedures,' the Republican wrote to the agency's administrator David Pekoske.

'As you are aware, five Americans, including Ryan Watson of Edmond, Oklahoma, have been detained this year in the Turks and Caicos due to ammunition being discovered in their luggage as they passed through security on the islands.'

'It is my understanding that each of these individuals had successfully passed through TSA screenings, but TSA personnel failed to identify these items during passenger screening.'

'TSA's failure in these five cases raises serious concerns about TSA's ability to accomplish this critical security mission.' 

Watson, the Oklahoman stuck in the island, was detained after bullets were discovered in his bag while he was attempting to fly out of the county to the U.S. He was arrested on April 12. 

His wife, Valerie, was also arrested at the time. The couple were in Turks and Caicos to celebrate a friend's 40th birthday. 

Ryan Watson of Edmond, Oklahoma, has been stuck in the country since his arrest on April 12

Ryan Watson, shown here in a mugshot taken by Turks and Caicos authorities

Ryan Watson (left), Sharitta Greig (center) and Bryan Hagerich (right) in TCI while awaiting a verdict from authorities on their verdict. Hagerich has since been allowed to return to the U.S. after paying a fine

Valerie was released on April 23 and was allowed to return to the U.S. 

Ryan paid $15,000 bail and is awaiting his sentencing and is still not allowed to leave the country until a verdict or deal is reached. 

'They had their lives turned upside down when they tried to return home, as local airport security found four rounds of ammunition unknowingly left in a duff[le]bag from a deer hunting trip,' a GoFundMe page for the Watsons states.  

'It was not noticed by TSA when leaving America. Now, they are facing a legal system that is unfamiliar, daunting, and expensive that operates differently than the American Justice System.' 

At the end of May, Ryan Watson pleaded guilty to having ammunition in his bag.

The Oklahoman also made a friend while detained - Pennsylvanian Bryan Hagerich, who also was discovered with bullets in his baggage. 

Hagerich given a sentence which forced him to pay a large fine before he was allowed to return home - and Watson has said he hopes for a similar outcome, though he is not certain he will receive it. 

'There are a lot of similarities between all the cases. However, they're all nuanced,' Watson told the Oklahoma-based KOCO. 'Consistency has been the biggest concern for everybody.' 

He also added that he keeps in close contact with Hergeich.

'We FaceTime two to three times a day still,' Watson told the outlet. 'That's a relationship I'll carry on with me for the rest of my life.' 

Another American, Virginia-based Tyler Wenrich, 31, also faces charges for ammunition possession. He was arrested while trying to fly out on April 23. 

He too was released on $15,000 bond as he awaits the next steps in his trial. 

Additionally, Florida woman, Sharitta Greir, 45, was arrested in May for having two bullets in her bag. 

She is also awaiting developments in her trial while staying on the island.

Sen. James Lankfrod, R-Olka., is demanding answers from TSA on how they overlooked the bullets in the Americans' bags as they departed from the U.S.

TSA is tasked with screening passenger's baggage to ensure banned items, like bullets, do not make it onto planes in the U.S. 

Watson and his wife Valerie while on vacation in Turks and Caicos

The couple traveled to the island for a friend's 40th birthday celebration

Lankford's letter to TSA continued: 'The five Americans in each of these separate cases were hoping to head home when Turks and Caicos transportation security discovered stray ammunition; instead, they found themselves arrested and detained in a foreign country.'

'While two Americans have now been released and another has been allowed to return to the U.S. temporarily for medical reasons, Ryan and two other Americans are still stuck in the Turks and Caicos and remain separated from their families and friends.'

'These Americans could face up-to 12 years in prison under the Turks and Caicos' Firearms Act.'

The Americans Lankford references are Watson, Greir and Wenrich. 

Lankford requested a response from TSA by July 10.