British Bella May Culley 18, missing from Thailand, arrested in Georgia, May 2025

[Dotta]

I think what would help is for passports to be automatically flagged for young women, say under the age of 25 or 30, travelling to or through specific countries known to be sources of drug smuggling. Obviously the vast majority of such women will be entirely innocent but the data might help to identify specific travel patterns that are deemed to be high risk and worth monitoring.

Booking an international flight already requires providing passport details, which in turn include/provide personal data such as sex and age so the means to flag certain types of travellers may be fairly straight forward.

Anybody can be a drug mule.

Male, female, young, middle-aged or elderly.

What about this "nice" British couple of pensioners
caught smuggling cocaine?

"An elderly British couple have been sentenced to eight years in prison for smuggling cocaine worth £1m on a luxury cruise ship."

Oh wait!

They claimed they
"had been duped into transporting the haul by a Jamaican businessman.

They held hands and cried after the decision,
saying they wanted people to know the 'real story'."

Sure.

British pensioners jailed for smuggling cocaine on luxury cruise liner

Roger and Sue Clarke held hands and cried after the decision, saying they wanted people to know the "real story".

news-sky-com.cdn.ampproject.org

Even a kitten was caught smuggling drugs

Cat caught smuggling drugs into Costa Rica prison

The feline was found carrying 235.65g of marijuana and 67.76g of heroin, authorities say.

www.bbc.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1924648772530811082

 

[Cartie]

One of the articles stated she had been in care so their is a high likelihood of her being in council housing /housing association accommodation so cheaper rent than private . I am not sure how much deposit is needed for council property.

Smuggling for £250.00 is ridiculous. She could get that with a few shop lifting sessions.

You don't pay a deposit on social housing, just 1 months rent in advance is required

 

[CityKid]

Fears Bella Culley & Charlotte Lee cases ARE linked as ‘mystery man’ emerges

FEARS are growing that Brit “drug smuggling” cases involving Bella Culley and Charlotte Lee could be linked, as similarities including a “mystery man” have emerged. Within a…

www.thesun.co.uk

I wish they would stop referring to them as backpackers. Backpackers do not stay in luxury hotels .
The biggest connection that I can see is that they are both extremely entitled and wanted to live a life of luxury without wanting to work hard.

From this story, this second sentence below is mind-boggling IMO. Aside from calling her a backpacker, how would the writer know she was "clearly in the company of a male stranger" (how would the writer know he was a stranger to her?) and at the same time say "he was never clearly pictured or named"? I know it's the Sun, but come on!

"Bella revealed to her family she was meeting an unknown man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East.
The backpacker’s social media went on to show her clearly in the company of a male stranger - but he was never clearly pictured or named."

 

[Skigh]

From this story, this second sentence below is mind-boggling IMO. Aside from calling her a backpacker, how would the writer know she was "clearly in the company of a male stranger" (how would the writer know he was a stranger to her?) and at the same time say "he was never clearly pictured or named"? I know it's the Sun, but come on!

"Bella revealed to her family she was meeting an unknown man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East.
The backpacker’s social media went on to show her clearly in the company of a male stranger - but he was never clearly pictured or named."

I imagine her family are feeding the media this information A few exclusive interviews to earn some money and at the same time portraying Bella as a lovely,naive wholesome young girl used by some shady man

 

[Skigh]

I wonder if the guard expects anything in return for this friendship. I cannot see the Sri Lankan authorities being pleased to hear about a guard being very friendly towards a drug smuggler.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Anybody can be a drug mule.

Of course, but there's evidence that young British women are currently being disproportionally targeted.

 

[ch_13]

I think what would help is for passports to be automatically flagged for young women, say under the age of 25 or 30, travelling to or through specific countries known to be sources of drug smuggling. Obviously the vast majority of such women will be entirely innocent but the data might help to identify specific travel patterns that are deemed to be high risk and worth monitoring.

Booking an international flight already requires providing passport details, which in turn include/provide personal data such as sex and age so the means to flag certain types of travellers may be fairly straight forward.

Something like this is probably being done.

In the old days, border patrol had no idea who was arriving until they landed and stood in front of the agent. But today, they already know if they want to take a closer look at you as soon as you've booked your ticket. Some countries have more advanced systems than others, but I believe most countries do some advanced risk assessment on incoming passengers.

Plus countries share information to some extent. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that these were not in fact random stops, but both Georgia and Sri Lanka were on the lookout for young British women who were arriving from Thailand with significant luggage, had never previously been to the country, and this trip was out-of-character for them based on their previous itineraries.

 

[truthfinder2019]

Meanwhile, an Australian tourist has been arrested at a Thai airport after allegedly trying to smuggle 22kg of meth hidden in his case.

Tran Huybao Khang, 28, was reportedly caught with the drugs while trying to board a plane at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on May 18.

Fears Bella Culley & Charlotte Lee cases ARE linked as ‘mystery man’ emerges

FEARS are growing that Brit “drug smuggling” cases involving Bella Culley and Charlotte Lee could be linked, as similarities including a “mystery man” have emerged. Within a…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[Herat]

Meanwhile, an Australian tourist has been arrested at a Thai airport after allegedly trying to smuggle 22kg of meth hidden in his case.

Tran Huybao Khang, 28, was reportedly caught with the drugs while trying to board a plane at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on May 18.

Fears Bella Culley & Charlotte Lee cases ARE linked as ‘mystery man’ emerges

FEARS are growing that Brit “drug smuggling” cases involving Bella Culley and Charlotte Lee could be linked, as similarities including a “mystery man” have emerged. Within a…

www.thesun.co.uk

So is it after the two women's arrests that Thai airport officials are just now starting to screen outgoing baggage?

Wonder what the Thai penalty will be as compared to the Georgian or Sri Lankan penalties for such large amounts of marijuana.

Edited: Answered my own question:

Charges for Possession of marijuana in Thailand can entail the following punishments

• For minor use of marijuana, the maximum sentence is up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of up to 10,000 Baht.
• For possession of up to 10kg, the maximum sentence is 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to 50,000 baht.
• For possession of 10kg or more, this is considered as possession with intent to sell. The sentence can range from 2 - 15 years in prison, and/or include a fine of 20,000 to 150,000 baht. Charges can also be levied for amounts of 10kg or more for the intent to produce, import or export cannabis. The sentence is the same.

 

[Skigh]

So is it after the two women's arrests that Thai airport officials are just now starting to screen outgoing baggage?

Wonder what the Thai penalty will be as compared to the Georgian or Sri Lankan penalties for such large amounts of marijuana.

Surely outgoing baggage would be screened due to explosives or other items which might be a danger to the flight

 

[Herat]

Surely outgoing baggage would be screened due to explosives or other items which might be a danger to the flight

Yes, but somehow the suitcases of the two young women smugglers which were packed to the gills with marijuana or kush got through Thai airport security screening without incident.

 

[Skigh]

Yes, but somehow the suitcases of the two young women smugglers which were packed to the gills with marijuana or kush got through Thai airport security screening without incident.

I still wonder if it was picked up by the Thai customs but they let it through for some reason and alerted customs at the destination airport. Maybe the Thai customs were tracking a large consignment coming /leaving the country and did not wish to tie up staff to deal with two British girls .

 

[Herat]

I still wonder if it was picked up by the Thai customs but they let it through for some reason and alerted customs at the destination airport. Maybe the Thai customs were tracking a large consignment coming /leaving the country and did not wish to tie up staff to deal with two British girls .

Yes, the day both the girls flew was a national holiday in Thailand and the airports were reportedly extremely busy. An idea that the Georgian Police General mentioned as a smuggler trick to fly on days when the airports are extremely busy.

 

[musicaljoke]

From the sounds of it, CML has an even worse prison future ahead of her if the UK can't extradite her. She might well consider revealing all possible information about her associations and contacts and plead for mercy.

It's not so easy to rat out a drug smuggler. It might require testifying in court. It could mean finding herself facing the accused in places that are very unsafe.

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

These drug mules are too young, stupid and greedy to think up a good story. All that's in their heads is money and posting on SM. JMO

 

[Dotta]

"British teenager held in prison in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences
has been described as
'not far from childhood'
by her new lawyer.

Mr Salakaia said Miss Culley was in 'good health'
but he would not describe her as
an adequate adult.

The lawyer,
who does not speak English and specialises in juvenile law,
has been communicating with his client using a translator.

Their first meeting lasted two hours.
The 18-year-old was also giving evidence to Georgian investigators."

Bella May Culley not 'far from childhood', new lawyer says

The 18-year-old, from Billingham, has had her first meeting with her new lawyer in Georgia.

www.bbc.com

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

"British teenager held in prison in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences
has been described as
'not far from childhood'
by her new lawyer.

Mr Salakaia said Miss Culley was in 'good health'
but he would not describe her as an adequate adult.

The lawyer,
who does not speak English and specialises in juvenile law,
has been communicating with his client using a translator.

Their first meeting lasted two hours."

Bella May Culley not 'far from childhood', new lawyer says

The 18-year-old, from Billingham, has had her first meeting with her new lawyer in Georgia.

www.bbc.com

How ridiculous is that?! She's 18, she can vote, get married, buy a house if she wishes. That's hardly 'not far from childhood'. What else are they going to come up with, that her Mummy should have been holding her toddler reins all the way to Georgia? JMO

 

[Dotta]

How ridiculous is that?! She's 18, she can vote, get married, buy a house if she wishes. That's hardly 'not far from childhood'. What else are they going to come up with, that her Mummy should have been holding her toddler reins all the way to Georgia? JMO

I guess
it is an euphemism for "infantile"/"immature".

JMO

 

[Skigh]

Mr Salakaia said his client was in good health, did not have any complaints about the place of detention and was ready to defend herself in court.

Interesting that there was no mention of her being pregnant .

 

[Dotta]

"MULE ON THE RUN

'I’m a drug mule who flew from Thailand like Bella Culley & Charlotte May Lee…​

I’ve fled UK over threat to kill my family'.​

Thai drugs gangs have been specifically targeting vulnerable young Brits
to be mules after a crackdown on drugs sent by post.

A terrified British drug mule
has told how he was left in fear of his life
after his stash went missing en route to the UK -
and the gang which recruited him demanded £100,000.

He lives a few miles from Bella’s home in Billington, County Durham,
but has been forced to flee the country to Spain
after the gang started hunting him."

I’m a drug mule who flew from Thailand… smugglers threatened to kill my family

A TERRIFIED British drug mule has told how he was left in fear of his life after his stash went missing en route to the UK – and the gang which recruited him demanded £100,000. The 32-year-ol…

www.thesun.co.uk