Six clues 'smuggling teen' left before going missing and mystery man riddle
Bella May Culley, 18, was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences. Her TikTok videos prior to her arrest have allegedly revealed drug use, cash flaunting, and troubling 'Bonnie & Clyde' references
An 18-year-old from County Durham has found herself at the centre of a media storm after allegedly attempting to smuggle over 14kg of cannabis and hashish. Bella May Culley was apprehended at the airport in Tbilisi, Georgia, after police allegedly discovered drugs in her luggage and arrested her on suspicion of drug offences.
A British Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that Ms Culley had been detained and that they were supporting the teenager's family, who have rubbished any notion that she is a drug trafficker. Prior to her arrest, the nursing student's TikTok activity, where she flaunted a lavish lifestyle and wads of cash, rang alarm bells before her disappearance from Thailand. Social media sleuths have been quick to unearth some of her videos while travelling across Thailand and Asia.
Here we take a look at six notable clues that preceded her arrest, with her family in the UK initially reporting her as missing after failing to hear from the teen for several days. If found guilty, Bella could face life imprisonment, thousands of miles away from her family.
'Bonnie and Clyde' references
Bella likened herself to Bonnie from the infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde, posting about engaging in "criminal activities side by side" and "making heavy figures." In one video, she posted a clip of herself alongside the caption: "Blonde or brunette? Erm how about we get up to criminal activities side by side like Bonnie n Clyde making heavy figures and f****** on balconies all over the world."
Another video is captioned: "Don't care if we on the run baby as long as I'm next to u." But Bella's male companion's face never appears in the posts and he is never tagged. Family members have claimed she met a group of young men from the north west of England in Thailand before she was reported missing on Saturday.
Displaying large sums of cash
In other TikTok videos, Bella showcased stacks of £10 and £20 notes, bound together with a hairband. Those who viewed the videos questioned where the stash had come from.
Georgian police claim she was caught with 34 bags of weed, totalling around 14 kilos of the banned substance. In a video displaying the cash, she captioned the video, "But nothing hurts when I'm with you," alongside money bag emojis.
Smoking cannabis on camera
Bella was also seen smoking what appeared to be cannabis while riding in the back of a car. She appeared in court on Wednesday after being detained at the city's airport on suspicion of hiding 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage.
Airport staff had stopped her on the way in and allegedly found the cannabis in her luggage. The aspiring nurse could face 20 years in an overcrowded former Soviet prison or even a life sentence, the country's Interior Ministry said.
Taking the stand on Wednesday, she told the court she was pregnant before adding she would reserve the right to remain silent. She is said to be "confused and terrified".
Association with a man named 'Russ'
Bella mentioned meeting a man named"Russ" or "Ross" during her travels in the Philippines. This individual remains unidentified, but authorities are investigating his potential connection to Bella's subsequent activities
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. Her grandad William Culley, 80, revealed that she appears to have spent most of March in Thailand but also spent time in the Philippines with a man called "Ross or Russ", adding: "She's got sucked into something, somehow."
Video clips and snaps show the bubbly student holding onto a man as she rides pillion on a scooter and another shows her smoking a cannabis spliff.
Sudden disappearance
While traveling in Thailand, Bella ceased communication with her family, prompting them to report her missing on Saturday. Her unexpected silence raised concerns about her wellbeing initially.
Bella's father Niel - who lives in Vietnam but searched for her in Thailand after she vanished - has flown to Tbilisi but his attempts to see her in jail were blocked by red tape on Wednesday. He had hoped for an emotional heart-to-heart at the grim No5 Women's Penitentiary on the outskirts of the city but was told essential paperwork had not been signed.
Mr Culley, 49, arrived in Georgian capital Tbilisi seeking answers as family members told how he was suffering " every parent's worst nightmare." He was being supported by his sister, Kellie Culley while Bella's mum Lyanne Kennedy - who is estranged from Niel - awaited news in the UK.
Social media posts
Bella's TikTok content included references to drug culture and dealing, with captions and imagery that suggested involvement in illicit activities. These posts have become a focal point for authorities in understanding the events leading up to her arrest.
Bella's social media activity, particularly on TikTok, provides a complex picture of her life leading up to her arrest. As investigations continue, these digital footprints may offer insights into the circumstances surrounding her case.
Out in Asia, evidence of her lavish lifestyle continued with videos of Bella partying, lounging on beaches, scuba diving and smoking in the back of a cars. Her mum previously said that Bella "doesn't like the party lifestyle", so it was even more of a shock to hear she was accused of a major drug smuggling operation.
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