What started off as a young British woman’s journey abroad—possibly for leisure, adventure, or personal growth—has now spiraled into a dramatic international legal battle.
Eighteen-year-old Bella May Culley, who was once reported missing while believed to be vacationing in Thailand, now finds herself at the center of a serious drug trafficking case, accused of attempting to smuggle cannabis worth nearly £200,000.
Chilling CCTV Footage Raises Questions About Her Claims
Thai authorities have released new CCTV footage of Bella moving calmly through Bangkok airport.
Contrary to her claims of being coerced into smuggling drugs, the images show her appearing composed and routine as she passed through security checks—nothing erratic, no visible distress, no calls for help.
This has led investigators to push back against the teen’s version of events.
Police Major General Cherngron Rimphadee stated plainly that there was no sign of coercion.
“She exited the country using an automatic passport control channel with a British passport.
No interaction with immigration officers. She left with no signs of being in distress or seeking help,” he explained.
A Massive Haul Hidden in Her Luggage
Bella was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia in what’s believed to be part of a larger sting operation.
Authorities discovered a major stash of drugs—specifically hashish and cannabis—hidden in her checked luggage. The street value was estimated to be around £200,000.
Interestingly, her carry-on bag only contained clothes.
She had flown in from Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, and officials believe she entered Thailand specifically to commit the alleged drug offense.
Now, there’s talk of blacklisting her entirely from the country.
Facing Serious Charges and Stiff Sentencing
Bella has been charged with multiple offenses, including the purchase of 446 grams of THC and 11.2 kilograms of cannabis while abroad.
The charges are not minor—if convicted, she could face anywhere from 8 to 20 years for the first charge, and up to 20 years for the second.
A third charge carries an additional maximum of six years in prison.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Bella posed a flight risk, and Judge Lela Kalichenko agreed, denying her bail despite a £13,500 offer from her family.
The judge cited concerns that she could potentially reoffend.
Emotional Court Appearance and a Desperate Plea
In a heartbreaking court appearance, Bella broke down in tears.
Wearing a pink jumper and with her hair in a bun, she told the judge she had been tortured and forced to carry the drugs.
She insisted she was innocent, describing herself as a loving person who wanted to study nursing and make her family proud.
“I didn’t want to do this,” she cried.
“I was forced under torture. I just wanted to travel. I don’t use drugs. You can check my blood tests—I’m clean.”
Her father, Niel Culley, her aunt Kerrie, and her grandfather were present in court.
Her mother, unable to attend in person, appeared via video link.
A Burn Scar and Claims of Coercion
Bella’s lawyer, Malkhaz Alakaia, defended her fiercely, suggesting she had been manipulated and controlled by others.
He told the court that she arrived in Thailand with only £70 to her name and had since become pregnant—calling the baby a “labour of love.”
He pointed to a snake-like scar on her arm that Bella allegedly tried to show police as proof of her torture.
The lawyer claimed she had no real awareness of what country she was in and didn’t even know Tbilisi was in Georgia.
According to him, she had been given a passport, a photo, and instructions to meet certain people—but that handover never happened because she was arrested before it could take place.
What’s Next for Bella Culley?
Bella has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and her trial has been scheduled for July 10.
While she waits for her day in court, she remains in custody at Women’s Colony Number 5—a notoriously harsh prison located just outside the capital city of Tbilisi.
Her defense team continues to argue that her emotional state and physical scars prove she was coerced into transporting the drugs.
But prosecutors remain firm in their stance that this was a deliberate act.
With the trial looming, Bella Culley could be looking at a sentence of up to 20 years behind bars.
Whether her claims of coercion hold any legal weight will soon be decided in court.