British Teenager Arrested in Georgia for Smuggling Dozens of Bags of Cannabis
A British teenager who went missing while travelling in Thailand has been arrested over 4,000 miles away in Georgia, on charges of smuggling dozens of bags of cannabis into the country. Bella May Culley, 18, from Billingham, County Durham, was filmed by local media walking into a court in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in handcuffs.
According to reports, Ms Culley had not been heard from since last Saturday, when she failed to check in with her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, as planned. The teenager’s father and aunt had flown out to Bangkok over the weekend to find out more about Ms Culley’s whereabouts, only to discover on Tuesday that she was in Georgia. Her father, Neil Culley, is reportedly now redirecting to Tbilisi.
The Georgian interior ministry has confirmed that Ms Culley is facing life imprisonment, which is 20 years in the country. A statement read: "B.K, born in 2006, is charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia. The committed crime envisions up to 20 years – or life imprisonment." As the Independent reports, local media said the teenager was arrested at Tbilisi airport in possession of "34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana … as well as 20 packages of hashish".
The Independent has confirmed that a British Foreign Office spokesperson has been supporting Ms Culley’s family, and Cleveland police have also confirmed that she had been detained in Georgia. Ms Kennedy told Teesside Live that her daughter flew to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and was there for three weeks. "She was posting loads of pictures," Ms Kennedy said.
According to the Independent, the teenager had travelled to the tropical islands of Palawan and Panay, having recently finished a course at Middlesbrough College in the hopes of becoming a nurse. On 16 April, she posted a video on TikTok appearing to show her in the Philippines, alongside the caption: "Needed a hug but instead made the biggest decision of my life and found peace in another country’s culture and way of life." On 3 May, Ms Culley travelled to Thailand, where she remained until disappearing last Saturday.
The 18-year-old had posted videos and images from both of her trips, which included snorkelling, visiting caves and seeing turtles. Her last posts were on 9 May, a day before she was reported missing. The circumstances surrounding Ms Culley’s arrest are still unclear, but the Independent will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
In a statement, the Georgian interior ministry confirmed that Ms Culley is currently being held in Tbilisi, and that her case is being investigated. The Independent has learned that Ms Culley’s family is being supported by the British authorities, and that they are working to ensure her safe return to the UK. As the situation continues to unfold, the Independent will provide ongoing coverage of this developing story.
The teenager’s ordeal began when she went missing in Thailand, sparking a search effort by her family. According to her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, Ms Culley had been in contact with her regularly, but suddenly stopped responding. The family had been searching for her in Thailand, but were shocked to discover that she had been arrested in Georgia.
This case highlights the risks faced by young travellers abroad, and the importance of staying in touch with family and friends while travelling. The Independent will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Source: The Independent
