Bella May Culley, an 18-year-old British national, is currently detained in Georgia after being arrested at Tbilisi International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle approximately 14 kilograms of cannabis and multiple packages of hashish into the country. The arrest occurred following her travels from Thailand via the United Arab Emirates.
Culley, a nursing student from Teesside, England, had been reported missing by her family during her trip to Thailand. Her sudden reappearance in Georgia under these circumstances has shocked her relatives and garnered international attention.
Upon her arrest, Culley claimed to be pregnant and has since reported receiving no medical care while in custody at Tbilisi’s No. 5 Women’s Penitentiary. She has described the prison conditions as cold and undernourishing, expressing concerns about her health and that of her unborn child.
Georgian celebrity lawyer Mariam Kublashvili has taken on Culley’s case pro bono, asserting that Culley is more a victim than a criminal. Kublashvili believes Culley may have been manipulated by an individual she met in Thailand, known only as “Ross” or “Russ,” who is suspected of recruiting young travelers as drug mules.
If convicted, Culley faces a minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment under Georgian law. Her case highlights a growing trend identified by the UK’s National Crime Agency, where young individuals are lured into drug trafficking operations under the guise of lucrative travel opportunities.
Culley’s father, Neil, and her aunt have traveled to Georgia in hopes of visiting her, but have been unable to do so due to prison regulations. The British embassy is providing consular support as the legal proceedings continue.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities examining potential links to organized crime networks operating between Southeast Asia and Europe. Further developments are awaited as Culley’s legal team prepares for the upcoming trial.