About 8:45am today two U.S. citizens travelling together on a visiting ship were arrested at the cruise ship terminal in Dockyard after they were found to be carrying 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition. A 26 year old man and his 29 year old female companion were searched by ship's security officers as they returned aboard the ship when the ammunition was found in the man's bag, and the police were called.

The Bermuda Police Service carried out a full investigation and has determined that the ammunition was inadvertently carried to Bermuda. The man had previously used the bag to lawfully carry ammunition to a shooting range in the U.S. He did not empty the bag before travelling to Bermuda and was unaware he was carrying any ammunition.

The police have consulted with the DPP's office and they are satisfied that no charges will be laid in this case. Their decision is guided by a recent ruling in the Supreme Court on appeal that charges for these offences need more than evidence of just physical possession: it must also be proved that the person was aware of what they were carrying and that they did so with a criminal intent. That is not the case in this matter.

Both persons were released from custody without charge, and they departed the island this afternoon. The ammunition was retained by Police and will be destroyed in due course.