An American woman was fined $150,000 in the St James Parish Court on Friday after 24 bullets were found inside her handbag at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay last week.

Brittany Allen, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of ammunition before presiding judge, Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley.

The court heard that Allen, an IT specialist, was going through the security checkpoint when her handbag was scanned and oddities were detected.

The police were alerted, the bag was searched, and 24 rounds were found.

When cautioned, she said she was unaware of the rounds being in her bag.

Attorney Henry McCurdy, who represented Allen, said she was remorseful for not checking her bag thoroughly.

He explained that she was also a firearm holder but didn’t need a licence, according to the regulations in her state.

“It was just an error on her part,” the attorney added.

In view of this and the fact that the accused had no previous convictions, McCurdy implored the court to impose a fine on his client and not a custodial sentence.

Judge Smith-Ashley ordered Allen to pay a $150,000 fine or risk spending three months in custody.