A British teenager accused of international drug smuggling in the nation of Georgia has been released from prison after accepting a plea deal that spared her a long-term sentence.
Bella May Culley, 19, who is pregnant, was found guilty by a Georgian court on Monday for attempting to traffic 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish into the country earlier this year. The court sentenced her to five months and 25 days in prison—the exact amount of time she had already served in pretrial detention.
Culley’s release came after her family agreed to pay a fine of 500,000 lari (approximately $184,000) as part of the negotiated plea arrangement.
Inside the Tbilisi courtroom, Culley and her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, wept and embraced as the verdict was read. “It was totally unexpected,” Kennedy told the Associated Press, adding that she believed she would only see her daughter again after the birth of her grandchild.
Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili confirmed that the state initially sought a two-year sentence but reconsidered, citing Culley’s age, pregnancy, and confession. “We reviewed the case, taking into account the confession of the accused, her age and condition, and ultimately, the parties reached an agreement,” he said.
Culley’s defense lawyer, Malkhaz Salakhaia, said the teenager will soon have her passport returned and be allowed to leave Georgia. “Bella was sincere throughout the investigation,” Salakhaia stated, adding that the court “made the decision they had to make.”
Before her arrest, Culley—who hails from Teesside, England—had been reported missing in Thailand. She later claimed she was tortured in Thailand and forced to carry the drugs before being detained at Tbilisi International Airport on May 10. Her lawyer said she showed visible signs of abuse when she arrived in Georgia.
Under Georgian law, plea deals can include financial settlements that reduce or eliminate prison terms, especially in drug-related cases. Culley originally faced up to 15 years or life imprisonment, but the court opted for leniency due to her condition and cooperation.
The case has drawn global attention, with discussions about international drug laws, human rights, and the treatment of foreign detainees abroad. It also underscores how legal defense strategies and plea bargaining can dramatically alter the outcomes of serious drug trafficking charges.
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