• A 69-year-old American was arrested in the Bahamas for possession of a loaded firearm and ammunition while on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• The firearm possession charge in the Bahamas is serious, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
• The passenger was incarcerated for nearly a week at the notorious Fox Hill Prison in Nassau until an $8,000 fine could be paid.
• The incident highlights the strict, non-negotiable laws regarding firearms in international jurisdictions, even if the weapon was legally carried in the US.

A 69-year-old American grandmother, Mary Robinson from Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in the Bahamas on December 2. Robinson was found carrying a loaded Kel-Tec .380 pistol and four rounds of ammunition in her purse aboard the Liberty of the Seas, which had sailed from Port Everglades, Florida. Her attorney confirmed that the weapon was likely missed by security during the initial boarding process.

Robinson pleaded guilty to the charges before a magistrate on December 4, explaining that she forgot the gun was in her purse due to her home state’s open carry laws. Firearm possession charges in the Bahamas can carry a significant prison sentence ranging from 12 months to 10 years. However, her attorney negotiated an $8,000 fine instead of imprisonment.

Since the fine was not immediately paid, Robinson was incarcerated at the Bahamas Department of Corrections, also known as Fox Hill Prison, in Nassau for approximately five or six days. Conditions at Fox Hill have been described as harsh due to issues like overcrowding, poor nutrition, and inadequate sanitation, according to a 2021 U.S. Department of State report. Robinson’s granddaughter launched a GoFundMe campaign, which successfully raised the necessary funds. The fine was paid, leading to Robinson’s release on December 8, after which arrangements were made for her return home.