Eight U.S. citizens were detained in the Caribbean on Tuesday after local authorities discovered “high-powered weapons” and a significant amount of ammunition on their vessel, according to police reports.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) announced in a statement that officers from the Alice Town Police Station collaborated with the Bahamas Customs Department to inspect a boat docked at a port on Bimini. Bimini is a group of islands located about 50 miles east of Miami, Florida. The search took place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, based on unspecified intelligence, the RBPF revealed.

The boat’s occupants, including eight Americans, one individual from South Africa, and another from Guyana, were all taken into custody, the RBPF reported. The ages of those arrested span from 21 to 62, though their identities were not disclosed by the police.

Exuma, a district within The Bahamas, is renowned for its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, making it a top tourist destination.

Weapons, ammunition and cash seized

During the search, authorities uncovered a cache of firearms, ammunition, and cash on the vessel.

During the search, officers discovered three “high-powered weapons”, 11 firearms, a substantial quantity of ammunition and a “considerable sum of undeclared cash,” the agency said. 

A view of the beach in Bimini, Bahamas, on May 1, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Investigation ongoing

The investigation remains ongoing, police said. It was not immediately clear what charges the Americans face. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. State Department for additional information.

Members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force SWAT team stand guard outside the Magistrate’s Court in Nassau, Bahamas. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The RBPF has not indicated whether more arrests are expected and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.