Teenager Bella Culley, a drug mule from Britain who is pregnant, discloses the gender of her baby during a court hearing while expressing a heartfelt plea for her freedom.
In a dramatic turn of events, a 19-year-old British teenager named Bella Culley found herself in the centre of a drug smuggling case in Tbilisi, Georgia. Culley was arrested at Tbilisi Airport in May 2025, accused of attempting to smuggle illegal substances into the country.
The timeline of events began in May when Culley was arrested. In July, she appeared in a Georgian court, where it was decided that she would remain in custody due to the severity of the charges, which include drug trafficking.
Evidence presented in court suggests that Culley was carrying 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds) of marijuana and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of hashish at the time of her arrest. The evidence also indicates that border controls detected the substances she was allegedly carrying.
Culley faces charges of drug trafficking, which in Georgia can lead to up to 20 years or even life imprisonment if convicted. As of the latest available information, there are no specific details about a plea bargain in the case.
Culley's mother, Lyanne Kennedy, was present in court and appeared visibly moved as the judge announced that Culley would remain in jail. Kennedy has visited Georgia three times already to support her daughter. Culley, who is pregnant, announced she is expecting a baby boy.
Culley's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, mentioned the possibility of a plea bargain for Culley to return to Britain. However, the release of CCTV footage has complicated her attempt to escape a jail term with a plea bargain deal.
Culley has claimed she had no knowledge that cannabis was in her baggage. Her lawyer expressed concern about the conditions at Tbilisi's No5 Women's Penitentiary for Culley's unborn child. Culley made a court appeal for freedom, expressing her story from her perspective.
In another case, a Brit couple was busted with more than 33kg of cannabis in their suitcases at a Spanish airport, highlighting the growing trend of wannabe Brit Insta stars being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world.
As the case unfolds, the focus remains on the court's decision and the potential penalties Culley faces if convicted. Lyanne Kennedy has vowed to visit her daughter in court tomorrow.
In the context of Bella Culley's drug smuggling case, the health-and-wellness of Culley and her unborn child has risen as a concern, with Culley's lawyer expressing worry about the conditions at Tbilisi's No5 Women's Penitentiary. Moreover, the general news of a growing trend of wannabe British Insta stars being lured by gangs into drug trafficking, such as a Brit couple caught in Spain, has added to the discourse on women's health as well as crime and justice.
