British Teen Bella Culley Arrested in Georgia for Drug Offences
The 18-year-old faces serious charges after a large quantity of narcotics was found in her possession.
A British teenager, Bella Culley, aged 18 from Billingham in Teesside, has been arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, on suspicion of drug offences.
Authorities report that Culley was found in possession of significant amounts of narcotics, including approximately 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of marijuana and over 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport.
Georgian Police announced that the arrest was part of a coordinated operation involving multiple investigative departments.
Culley has been charged with illegally purchasing, possessing, and importing large quantities of narcotics, which could carry severe penalties, including a possible sentence of up to 20 years or even life imprisonment if found guilty.
According to her lawyer, Ia Todua, Culley arrived in Georgia from Thailand on a Saturday and was placed in temporary detention before her initial court hearing, which took place on Tuesday.
During this hearing, she opted not to speak and was subsequently sent to an all-female pre-trial detention facility in Rustavi.
Todua described Culley as appearing distressed and apprehensive when told of the charges against her.
"She was so clenched, she is a child, in my personal opinion," Todua noted after the hearing.
"When we asked her to testify at that moment she decided to choose silence."
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing support to the family of the detained teenager.
Cleveland Police have also acknowledged that an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences and is currently in custody.
The case has drawn attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the potential consequences for the defendant under Georgian law.
Authorities report that Culley was found in possession of significant amounts of narcotics, including approximately 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of marijuana and over 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport.
Georgian Police announced that the arrest was part of a coordinated operation involving multiple investigative departments.
Culley has been charged with illegally purchasing, possessing, and importing large quantities of narcotics, which could carry severe penalties, including a possible sentence of up to 20 years or even life imprisonment if found guilty.
According to her lawyer, Ia Todua, Culley arrived in Georgia from Thailand on a Saturday and was placed in temporary detention before her initial court hearing, which took place on Tuesday.
During this hearing, she opted not to speak and was subsequently sent to an all-female pre-trial detention facility in Rustavi.
Todua described Culley as appearing distressed and apprehensive when told of the charges against her.
"She was so clenched, she is a child, in my personal opinion," Todua noted after the hearing.
"When we asked her to testify at that moment she decided to choose silence."
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing support to the family of the detained teenager.
Cleveland Police have also acknowledged that an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences and is currently in custody.
The case has drawn attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the potential consequences for the defendant under Georgian law.
