Shock update on British teenager who vanished while holidaying in Thailand
An 18-year-old who vanished while holidaying in Thailand has been located 6500 kilometres away in horrifying circumstances.
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A teenager who vanished while holidaying in Thailand has been arrested 6500 kilometres away in a former Soviet nation in eastern Europe on drug charges.
Bella May Culley’s family reported her missing at the weekend, sparking a mammoth search operation for the British woman.
The 18-year-old was thought to have been in Bangkok and was in regular contact with her mum but missed a scheduled phone call on Saturday and couldn’t be reached.
Her father and aunt flew to the Thai capital the next day to join authorities in the search.
Overnight, the shock news came that police in Georgia had arrested Ms Culley on drug offences.
Footage aired by a local television news outlet showed her being led through the Central Criminal Police Department in the capital of Tbilisi in handcuffs.
Police say Ms Culley was flagged during a security check after arriving at Tbilisi International Airport and was allegedly found with 14 kilograms of cannabis.
Local media reports she was allegedly found with “34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana … in the passenger’s bag, as well as 20 packages of hashish”.
She was reportedly denied bail after being deemed a flight risk. If found guilty, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
Days ago, Ms Culley’s mother Lyanne told Teeside Live she had travelled with a friend to the Philippines after Easter and was there for three weeks, before continuing on to Thailand on May 3.
“She was posting loads of pictures,” she told the newspaper.
“The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to FaceTime me later. That was the last message anyone has received, from what we can figure out up to now.
“I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice.”
In an interview with The Sun, her mum said messages sent to Ms Culley’s WhatsApp weren’t being delivered, leaving her distraught.
“Even if she’s lost her phone, she’d remember one of our numbers and call, and you can log into your social media on anyone’s phone these days.“
Ms Culley hadn’t posted any updates to her social media accounts, sparking further panic.
The British Government swung into action, working with diplomatic officials in Thailand and supporting the family.
Further confusing efforts to find her was a report she might’ve been in Pattaya, a city on Thailand’s eastern gulf, about 150 kilometres from Bangkok.
Thai police declared her case a “high priority”.
But overnight, police in Cleveland in northeast England, near her hometown of Teesside, issued a statement confirming Ms Culley’s arrest in Georgia.
“She remains in custody,” the statement read.
Social media groups in Ms Culley’s hometown have erupted in anger after news of her arrest spread.
“Is this the lass that went missing in Thailand?” one wrote.
“Stupid girl,” another replied.
One added: “I don’t feel sorry for her. She knew what she was doing.”
“Don’t go abroad and break the law,” another agreed.
Ms Culley’s family is yet to comment on the shock development.
Originally published as Shock update on British teenager who vanished while holidaying in Thailand
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