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Billingham teen Bella Culley arrested in Georgia over drugs offences Billingham teen Bella Culley arrested in Georgia over drugs offences
(about 3 hours later)
Bella Culley was taken into custody by Georgia police who routinely blur the faces of suspects in official photographs and videos Bella Culley's family is being supported by the Foreign Office
A British teenager has been arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, on suspicion of drug offences.A British teenager has been arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, on suspicion of drug offences.
Bella Culley, 18, from Billingham, who is understood to have gone missing in Thailand, is accused of illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics including marijuana. Bella Culley, 18, from Billingham on Teesside, who had gone missing in Thailand, has been charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics including marijuana.
Georgian Police have said, if found guilty, she could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment.Georgian Police have said, if found guilty, she could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment.
The Foreign Office have confirmed that they are "supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia". Miss Culley did not speak during an initial hearing before she was sent to an all-female pre-trial detention facility in the city of Rustavi, her lawyer said.
Georgian Police said it had seized up to 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and just over 2kg (4.4lbs) of the narcotic drug hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport. Ia Todua, who has been appointed by the state to represent Miss Culley, confirmed she arrived in Georgia from Thailand on 10 May and had been held in temporary detention.
A spokesperson said: "As a result of joint operational measures and investigative actions, officers of the Main Directorate for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance arrested a British citizen on charges of drug trafficking. She said other lawyers had been in touch to represent Miss Culley and the British consular service planned a meeting.
The woman "is charged with the illegal purchase and possession of a particularly large amount of narcotics, the illegal purchase and possession of the narcotic drug marijuana, and the illegal importation of the drug into Georgia", they said. Ms Todua said: "She was so clenched, she is a child, in my personal opinion.
"When she was explained the essence of the accusation she was worried to speak.
"When we asked her to testify at that moment she decided to choose silence."
The Foreign Office has confirmed that it is "supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia".
Bella Culley was taken into custody by Georgia police who routinely blur the faces of suspects in official photographs and videos
Georgian Police said officers had seized up to 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and just over 2kg (4.4lbs) of the narcotic drug hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport.
A spokesperson said the arrest was the result of a joint operation between multiple departments.
Ms Culley had been "charged with the illegal purchase and possession of a particularly large amount of narcotics, the illegal purchase and possession of the narcotic drug marijuana, and the illegal importation of the drug into Georgia", the force said.
Cleveland Police has confirmed an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia "on suspicion of drugs offences" and remains in custody.Cleveland Police has confirmed an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia "on suspicion of drugs offences" and remains in custody.
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