Kansas Man Faces Charges for Failing to Declare Firearm During St. Thomas Visit

Customs officials at Cyril E. King airport discover a loaded .38 caliber revolver in the luggage of Robert Dean Zoch, leading to his arrest

ST. THOMAS – One man is before the District Court of the Virgin Islands for failing to declare his firearm on either his inbound or outbound journey to St. Thomas for vacation.‌ On Thursday, Customs and Border Protection officials were conducting routine inspections of departing passengers at the Cyril E. King Airport when a dog alerted on a bag that belonged to the travel partner of Robert Dean Zoch.‌

Both Mr. Zoch and his partner were referred to secondary inspection, and their bags searched. Officials reportedly found a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver in his checked luggage. The gun was loaded with five rounds of ammunition, with an additional 10 rounds in speedloaders packed with the firearm.