Latest news with #NielCulley
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
British teen 'drug mule' locked up in a horror Georgia jail 'is finally reunited with her father' after he jetted to the ex-Soviet state to be by her side
A British teenage 'drugs mule' locked up in a Georgia jail has finally been reunited with her father. Bella Culley, 18, was arrested after she allegedly tried to smuggle 14kg of cannabis into the country earlier this month. As soon as the news broke on May 13, Bella's father, Niel Culley, 49, flew to the ex-Soviet state to be by his daughter's side. But, Niel was not allowed to see Bella until he visited her at Women's Prison No.5 in Rustavi yesterday. The 49-year old was spotted entering the prison with a bag before leaving without it 45 minutes later, presumably having dropped off some supplies to his daughter. He has vowed to stay in Georgia for 'as long as it takes' to bring Bella back home. The teenager, from Billingham on Teesside, had to write to prison authorities requesting permission before her family could visit her. The reunion came just days after Bella revealed she has been left freezing in her jail cell and is receiving no medical attention despite telling officials she is pregnant. As soon as the news broke on May 13 Bella's father, Niel Culley, 49, flew out to the ex-Soviet state to be by his daughter's side. But, Niel had not been allowed to see Bella until he visited her at Women's Prison No.5 in Rustavi yesterday The 49-year old was spotted going into the prison with a bag before leaving without it 45 minutes later - presumably having dropped off some supplies to his daughter She asked for a jumper and warmer clothes and requested fresh fruit after being visited by local celebrity lawyer Mariam Kublashvili. Bella, who is sharing a cell with two inmates called Anastasya and Ani, also requested tuna which Ms Kublashvili believes may be 'pregnancy cravings'. 'She is pregnant and needs medical care which she complained she wasn't getting,' the glamorous Georgian lawyer told the Mail after a 30-minute meeting with her on May 19. 'She asked me for tuna fish which I thought was odd and might have been something to do with pregnancy cravings - but fish cannot be sent in. 'She told me no tests, checks or medical examinations have been done. 'She said she asked for a doctor, but the doctor wasn't speaking English and they couldn't understand each other.' Ms Kublashvili, who previously represented speedboat killer Jack Shepherd when he was caught in Georgia, has been closely following the case and said she has great sympathy for Bella's predicament. While she is not representing the teenager, the former model used a routine visit to her prison to meet her and offered to use her legal clout to get her supplies. Ms Kublashivili, 39, who has specialised in helping female prisoners, said Bella was 'visibly cold' in the drafty meeting room and requested a jumper as she only had on a thin dark green top and blue leggings. She said: 'My Initial impression was very positive - she is very open, very pleasant, and charming. She doesn't fit the profile of a drug trafficker at all. 'For anyone, like me, with experience in dealing with such cases, it would be quite obvious that she is a victim here - she's been used and manipulated. 'I have a 20 year old child myself and can only imagine what her parents must be feeling.' Bella was arrested at Tbilisi Airport on May 11 and found with 12kg of cannabis and 2kg of hashish after getting a £550 Air Arabia flight from Bangkok via Sharjah. She is sharing a cell with two other women inmates, but it was unclear what crimes they have been accused of or committed, Ms Kublashvili said. The lawyer added: 'She is getting along well with her inmates – two of them, Anastasya and Ani. 'She asked me to get in touch with her dad – she said she knew he was getting lawyers and that carried significant financial costs. 'But I have a great deal of experience helping women in situations like this and want to do all I can for her - and I'm offering my service free of charge.' Ms Kublashivili said Bella was 'very polite' and 'shy', saying thank you 'every five minutes'. The meeting was the first time the teenage Brit has been heard from since she appeared in Tbilisi city court last week appearing shell shocked dressed only in a skimpy white top and shorts. She had been travelling around South East Asia and only appears to have clothes for the beach despite the cold conditions of her jail cell.
Metro
19-05-2025
- Metro
Two Brits busted for cannabis smuggling within hours of each at same airport
Two Brits have been arrested for smuggling large amounts of cannabis in separate incidents at the same airport, within hours of each other. One, a woman, was arrested this weekend at Kotoka Airport in Ghana yesterday after allegedly attempting to take 17.72kg of cannabis onboard a British Airways flight to Gatwick. Thirty two slabs of the drug was reportedly discovered in a suitcase. Photos show the drug packets in the case alongside a single toothbrush. The woman has been moved to the Narcotics Control Commission headquarters in Accra for further investigation, reports 3 News. Just hours before, another British national was arrested at the same airport, also for smuggling cannabis. He had arrived on a Emirates flight from Thailand, via Dubai. Authorities said they discovered 92 slabs of cannabis, weighing 53.6kg, in two suitcases. Further investigations led to the arrest of two suspected accomplices, a customs officer and a porter from the airport's Commercially Important Person (CIP) section. All three suspects are in custody. Authorities believe they may be part of a broader international drug trafficking network. More Trending Meanwhile, the father of suspected teenage British drug mule Bella May Culley has spoken out about his daughter's ordeal after her arrest andpregnancy announcement last week. The 18-year-old was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing a large quantity of drugs. Police say they found sealed packages of hash and cannabis in her suitcase after she flew from Thailand to the former Soviet country. Her father, Niel Culley, 49, has now said he's been unable to visit his child nearly a week after he flew to the country to be by her side. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Everything we know about Bella May Culley — the British teen who faces jail after vanishing in Thailand MORE: I thought my date had ordered an Uber – then I got in MORE: Reece Galbraith jailed for 14 years for Benwell cannabis lab explosion which killed boy, 7
Times
19-05-2025
- Times
I'll stay in Georgia as long as it takes, says father of ‘drug mule'
The father of a British teenager arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs into Georgia after going missing in southeast Asia has said that he plans to stay in the east European country for 'as long as it takes'. Niel Culley, 49, said that he had not yet been able to visit his daughter, Bella May Culley, 18, despite travelling to Tbilisi last week. The teenager is in custody in the former Soviet republic, accused of illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of marijuana. If found guilty, she could face life imprisonment. Mr Culley, an offshore oil rig technician who lives in Vietnam, told the Daily Mail: 'I can't say anything but I will be here for as long as it takes. 'I obviously
The Sun
18-05-2025
- The Sun
Teen ‘smuggler' Bella Culley's dad vows to stand by his daughter – amid fears drug gangs are targeting Brit backpackers
THE distraught father of drugs charge teenager Bella Culley has vowed to stand by his daughter - amid new fears Far East drugs gangs are targeting British backpackers. Bella, 18, is on remand in a grim jail following her arrest in Georgia's Tbilisi airport with a suitcase of cannabis after going missing 4,000 miles away in Thailand. 6 6 6 Bella's flight took off from the same Bangkok airport within hours of another pretty British trafficking suspect arrested with £1.2 million of a cannabis-related drug in Sri Lanka. Former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee, 21, was in a gruesome Sri Lankan jail cell last night awaiting a court appearance. Their arrests have sparked fears that Thai gangs may be hoodwinking vulnerable British backpackers into ferrying their drugs after a crackdown on postal trafficking. Bella was facing at least nine months on remand in a grim Soviet-era jail alongside hardened criminals. She had joked online of 'Bonnie and Clyde' hijinks while showing off cash wads in the Far East and was pictured smoking a spliff.. Bella's family from Billingham, County Durham are convinced she was preyed upon after flying to the Far East to party with a mystery man feared to have hooked her up with drugs runners. Her dad Niel - a Vietnam-based oil rig electrician - flew to Tbilisi last week desperate for answers after tearful Bella told a court that she was pregnant. But he has yet to meet his daughter within the drab confines of No5 Women's Penitentiary on the outskirts of the Georgian capital and remains baffled by her plight. Asked about his plans after arriving in Tbilisi, Mr Culley, 49, told The Sun today: 'I can't say anything but I will be here for as long as it takes. 'I obviously have no experience in dealing with situations like this and it's very difficult.' Pregnant 'smuggler' Bella Culley faces raising her child in grim ex-Soviet prison 6 Appearing shaky as he puffed on a cigarette, the anxious dad at one point appeared ready to make a statement when asked how his daughter was bearing up in prison. But he broke off to confer with Bella's aunt Kerrie Culley - who is supporting him in Georgia - and returned shaking his head. He added: 'I'm being advised by the British Embassy and can't comment at the moment. 'But that may change in the future depending on what happens.' Fears are growing that a Thai drugs gang is preying on British backpackers this summer as Charlotte became the second Brit flying out of Bangkok to be arrested within days. She was detained at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka on Monday - the day after Bella's arrest - where police say she had a huge stash of kush - a synthetic strain of cannabis. Charlotte from Chipstead, Surrey was last night locked in a cell with 20 other prisoners with barely room to lie down as she awaited a court hearing. Bella took off first from Bangkok on a 20-hour flight via Sharjah in the UAE to Georgia while Charlotte left later on a three-hour direct flight to Sri Lanka. Both girls departed from the Thai capital during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony weekend - one of the busiest festivals of the year when airports are crammed with tourists. It is believed to have provided a prime opportunity for traffickers to operate mules - particularly attractive young Britons who arouse less suspicion. The two arrests follow a huge crackdown on smugglers sending cannabis to the UK by post. A joint operation by both countries has seen a 90 per cent in reduction in the drug being mailed to Britain since last year. It suggests Thai gangs may now be reverting to using drug mules to ship their products instead - and targeting British backpackers. Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022 which sparked a massive rise in the narcotic being posted to Britain. The law change allowed traffickers to hoodwink trippers into believing transporting it was legal. Thai checks of mail being shipped stopped 1.5 tonnes in the first quarter of this year - a 90 percent drop in the illicit cargo - in a drive which frustrated the gangs. Some 800 people including 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted smuggling since July 2024 with over nine tonnes of cannabis seized. Retired Georgian police chief General Jemal Janashia voiced concerns that backpackers were being targeted yesterday. He said: "The fact that two young British women have taken off with large quantities of drugs from the same airport will interest investigators. "They will be concerned about the possibility of a link and that Thai gangs may be attempting to recruit vulnerable British travellers. 'After the crackdown on postal drug deliveries, the Thai cartel are seeking new routes and Georgia does look like an attractive middle transit point. 'It's relatively close, and easy to reach Europe and is visa free to European travellers.' He added: 'I feel sorry for this woman because she was clearly used and manipulated. She's 18, she's a foreigner, pregnant. 'All of this indicates that she was chosen deliberately, chosen carefully, she was studied. 'Whoever chose her, they knew what they were doing.' 6 6
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Father of drugs mule suspect Bella Culley makes vow to daughter while she is held in Georgia - as fears grow Thai gangs are targeting British girls
The father of drug arrest teenager Bella Culley has vowed to stay in Georgia for 'as long as it takes' - as organised crime experts fear British backpackers are being targeted by the Thai cartel. Niel Culley, 49, has still not been able to visit the 18-year-old despite jetting out to the Black Sea nation as soon as news broke of her arrest last Tuesday night. He is facing every parent's worst nightmare as he battles to get information on how Bella allegedly came to be in possession of 14kg of cannabis and hash. Mr Culley, an offshore oil rig technician who lives in Vietnam, is being supported by his sister Kerrie Culley, 51, in Tbilisi. 'I can't say anything but I will be here for as long as it takes,' he told the Mail. 'I obviously have no experience in dealing with situations like this and it's very difficult.' It comes as a second arrest of a British national allegedly smuggling cannabis out of Thailand has raised fears UK backpackers are being targeted by drug gangs in the country. Air stewardess Charlotte May Lee, 21, was detained at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka on Monday where police say she had a stash of £1.15million of kush - a synthetic strain of the drug. She left Bangkok Airport within hours of Bella who was arrested entering Tbilisi Airport on a flight via Sharjah, UAE, last Sunday. It means they could be related cases. Former Georgian police general Jemal Janashia, one of the country's foremost drug crime experts, told the Mail: 'The fact that two young British women have taken off with large quantities of drugs from the same airport will interest investigators. 'They will be concerned about the possibility of a link and that Thai gangs may be attempting to recruit vulnerable British travellers.' Both girls departed from the Thai capital during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony weekend. It is one of the busiest festivals of the year when airports are overloaded with tourists - a prime opportunity for gangs to try to push through mules. The two arrests also follow a huge crackdown on smugglers sending cannabis to the UK by post. A joint operation by both countries has seen a 90 per cent in reduction in the drug being mailed to Britain since last year. It suggests Thai gangs may now be reverting to using drug mules to ship their products instead - and targeting British backpackers. Mr Janashia said: 'After the crackdown on postal drug deliveries, the Thai cartel are seeking new routes. 'Georgia does look like an attractive middle transit point: It is relatively close and easy to reach Europe from.' Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022 which sparked a massive rise in the narcotic being posted to the UK. In the last quarter of last year Border Force detected 15 tonnes of the drug which was threatening to overwhelm resources. They established a new agreement with counterparts in Bangkok requiring Thailand to check mail before being shipped, which stopped 1.5tonnes in the first quarter of this year - a 90 per cent drop. It raises the terrifying prospect that Thai gangs are now looking for alternative means to get the drug out of the country. Some 800 people including 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted smuggling since July 2024 with over nine tonnes of cannabis seized. Bella was arrested at Tbilisi Airport on May 11 and found with 12kg of cannabis and 2kg of hashish after getting a £550 Air Arabia flight from Bangkok via Sharjah. She first appeared in Tbilisi city court on May 13 which was broadcast locally and word finally reached her family the following day. Georgian bureaucracy has blocked her father and auntie from visiting Bella who is languishing in notorious Women's Penitentiary Number 5 just outside of Tbilisi. They might not be granted their first visit until Wednesday - and Bella's lawyer has still not been told how she came to be in possession of the drugs. Mr Janashia has advised her to cooperate. 'I feel sorry for this woman because she was clearly used and manipulated. She's 18, she's a foreigner, pregnant,' he said. 'All of this indicates that she was chosen deliberately, chosen carefully, she was studied. Whoever chose her, they knew what they were doing.' He added: 'First of all, I would advise her to cooperate, together with the lawyer, with the investigation, indicate who were the youths that she was in touch with in Thailand. 'And also indicate whether there was a contact person in Georgia as well. 'Then a plea bargain should be reached, her profile does not strike me as one of a drug trafficker, she might be a user but I suppose we will find out soon enough. 'But it does not look like she has any previous experience in drug trafficking. 'The court, first of all will clarify and find out whether she has sold drugs before or trafficked them before, what kind of profile she has. And if it's the first time, it's mitigating circumstances.' Asked whether his message to Bella was to tell the police everything she knows, he replied: 'Of course.'
