The Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. THOMAS — A man accused of failing to declare ammunition after arriving at the Cyril E. King Airport is now facing federal charges, following an inspection that led authorities to question him and uncover additional firearm-related items. The case stems from a routine baggage check conducted by Customs and Border Protection officials.
According to federal documents, Akil Smith flew into St. Thomas on November 14 on a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After the aircraft landed, CBP officers inspected the checked luggage stored in the cargo hold. During that inspection, they discovered two boxes of .380 caliber ammunition—each containing 50 rounds—inside a bag belonging to Smith…