The passengers and crew of a 26 metre superyacht were arrested by the Bahamian Defence Force Marines and escorted to Nassau, when the yacht was found to be carrying undeclared guns and ammunition.
The 26-metre Mia was apprehended during a routine boarding off Highbourne Cay in the Exumas (Bahamas) where it was found that she had failed to declare the on board firearms during her first port of entry on Tuesday, August 11.
According to reports in a local paper The Bahamas Weekly officials found a Springfield Armory .45 automatic colt pistol with 105 rounds and one G lock 199 mm pistol with 74 rounds on board.
Bahamian regulations require all firearms to be declared to Customs when a yacht clears into the Territory. Weapons may remain on board provided they under lock and key.
The firearms and a total of 10 persons were transferred to Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship P-44 and transported to the country’s capital Nassau where they were handed to Bahamas Customs.
The yacht’s captain was fined $10,000, and the Customs Comptroller seized the weapons and ammunition for the breaching of Customs Regulations.