Student missing in Thailand is arrested in shock twist
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British Teen Missing in Thailand Found in Georgia Facing Serious Drug Charges
Concerns spread internationally after an 18-year-old British student, Bella Culley, disappeared while traveling through Asia. Her sudden disappearance caused alarm when she lost contact with her family shortly after arriving in Thailand.
Culley had been backpacking and documenting her trip on social media, beginning her journey in the Philippines on April 28. After exploring various islands, she traveled to Thailand, where she last communicated with her family on May 3. When they stopped hearing from her, relatives grew worried and alerted authorities.
In an unexpected development, Culley later resurfaced not in Thailand, but in Georgia — a country in the South Caucasus region of Eastern Europe — more than 4,000 miles away.
Authorities in Georgia have now confirmed that Culley has been arrested and charged with serious drug offenses. She is accused of importing and possessing large quantities of illegal substances, including marijuana and hashish. During an inspection at Tbilisi International Airport, law enforcement reportedly found around 12 kilograms of marijuana and just over 2 kilograms of hashish in her luggage.
Bella arrived in Georgia on May 10 and was initially held in a temporary detention center. Her first court appearance took place shortly after, during which she did not speak. Her appointed defense lawyer, Ia Todua, described her as visibly overwhelmed and emotionally withdrawn.
Todua remarked, “She was very tense — in my view, still very much a child. When the charges were explained to her, she was too distressed to respond and chose to remain silent during the proceedings.”
The charges against Culley include the illegal purchase, possession, and importation of a significant quantity of narcotics into Georgia. If convicted, she could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Culley has also claimed she is pregnant, although it’s unclear how this might affect her legal situation or detention conditions. She has been placed in a women’s pre-trial detention facility in Rustavi, a city located near the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed involvement in the case. A spokesperson stated, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The circumstances surrounding Culley’s journey from Thailand to Georgia remain unclear. An investigation is ongoing.
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