Earlier this week, it was reported that a British teen had gone missing in Thailand after sending a last message to her mum while travelling.
However, it then came to light that she had actually been arrested almost 4,000 miles across the world in Georgia.
Bella May Culley’s family spoke to media on Tuesday (13 May) after not hearing from the 18-year-old for four days and becoming increasingly concerned about her whereabouts.
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But Cleveland Police confirmed later that day that a teen from Billingham, County Durham, had been detained in Eastern Europe on suspicion of drugs offences. Appearing in a Tibilsi court yesterday (14 May) Bella reportedly claimed she is ‘pregnant’ and her lawyer added that she is ‘exercising the right to remain silent’.
'Missing' before arrest
With Bella’s family growing worried about her whereabouts, her dad and aunt flew over to Bangkok to seek answers. Her mum said the teen had been in regular contact but as of Tuesday morning, had no word from her from Saturday evening, and it was thought her phone was switched off.
As the mum just wanted ‘her home and safe’, it was later confirmed that Bella had been arrested in Georgia. It is unclear why or how she travelled from Thailand to Georgia.
Why was Bella May arrested?
A statement from the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs said a British citizen had been arrested on charges of drug trafficking and she was ‘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 the country.
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It was also made clear that this crime carries up to 20 years in jail, or life imprisonment.
The statement also said: “Law enforcement officers, as a result of defendant's luggage inspection at Tbilisi International Airport, seized a particularly large amount of the narcotic drug ‘marijuana’, up to 12 kilograms and 2.068 kg of the narcotic drug ‘hashish’ as evidence.”
Last message sent to mum
In a Teeside Live report before Bella’s arrest came to light, Lyanne Kennedy explained her daughter had travelled to Thailand around 3 May and had been ‘posting loads of pictures’.
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"The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later,” she said. “That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.”
Can the British government help her?
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told the LADbible Group: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia and are in contact with the local authorities.”
In guidance for arrests or detentions in Georgia, the British government explains that while ‘consular staff will do what they can to help’, it ‘cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer’.
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The FCDO can offer ‘impartial and non-judgemental help’ and get in regular contact with those detained. It can also provide ‘general information’ and put families in contact with helpful resources.
However, in the list of things it ‘can’t do’, the FCDO includes: “Get you out of prison or detention. Help you get special treatment because you are British. Offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime.”
Jess Battison