Latest news with #Salakaia
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Terrified Bella Culley's ‘silent cries for help' revealed as Brit mule ‘was WATCHED by drugs gang going through airport'
DRUG "mule" Bella Culley's silent cries for help have been revealed as she "was watched" by a drugs gang going through the airport, her lawyer has claimed. Bella, 19, was told yesterday that her trial on 11 Thai police have now released CCTV footage of the Brit going through the automated gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 On Bella's first court appearance she announced she was pregnant 11 Police confirmed she used a British passport to exit Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 Bella Culley seen in court at the beginning of July as her devastated family watched on Credit: Supplied 11 The teenager appeared at Bella was arrested on arrival at the airport at Georgian capital Tbilisi in May with But she has since claimed the bag was checked in by a gang member and she never saw it before Bella's attempt to escape a jail term has been complicated by the release of read more news The next hearing was yesterday put back to July 24 while prosecutors and Bella's Georgian lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia attempt to strike a deal. He told The Sun how cops missed her silent cries for help. Mr Salakaia said: "I fail to see how that's substantial. Of course they are going to say that. 'What hasn't been said or shown is the fact that the people who brought and handed in this baggage were still nearby and she couldn't communicate openly. Most read in The Sun 'She tried to signal it to them, without being noticed herself, that it wasn't her baggage but wasn't paid any attention." Trainee nurse Bella, from Billingham, Teesside - who got pregnant on the Far East backpacking trip where she met British gang members - faces a life jail term. Brit thugs forced 'drug mule' Bella May Culley to watch man be beheaded…and told her 'we'll do that to you', lawyer says The teenager - in a pink t-shirt showing her baby bump - was again supported in court on Thursday by her oil rig worker father Niel, 39, who urged her to 'stay strong' as she fought to stay composed. The next hearing was put back to July 24 while prosecutors and Bella's lawyer Salakaia attempt to strike a deal. Mr Salakaia told The Sun: "The sides have entered the phase of negotiation over the plea bargain, to see whether this could be an eventual option. 'We haven't reached agreement yet. Our position is the release of my client and paying the fine. We ll see where we end up after negotiations". Bella has been held for 61 days at Tbilisi's Number Five Women's Penitentiary accused of importing 31lbs of cannabis and hashish. She flew from Bangkok via Sharjah in Abu Dhabi on May 10 and her lawyer revealed she was unsure where she was when she was arrested. A Georgian police spokesman confirmed that, if found guilty, she could face between 20 years in jail and a life term. Bella claimed 11 Cops said cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage Credit: Unpixs 11 The Brit told a court she was tortured into trafficking £200,000-worth of cannabis by evil crimelords Credit: Facebook 11 She was caught at Tblisi International Airport with 30 pounds of marijuana and hashish in her luggage on May 10 Credit: Prime Time Her family launched a missing person hunt in Thailand after she vanished on holiday but she Then on her first court appearance she CCTV footage of Bella was released, which cops say Police Major General Cherngron Rimphadee said a few weeks ago: 'This matter is not complicated. 'Police have reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed that she used a British passport to exit through the automatic passport control channel. 'As a result, she did not interact with or speak to any immigration officers and simply exited the country.' Thai authorities say Bella's claims of seeking help from customs staff are "absolutely baseless". Surveillance shows the teen, from Billingham, Teesside, apparently passing calmly through Suvarnabhumi Airport's automated gates without raising any red flags. 'There is no evidence whatsoever that any immigration or police officers forced or threatened the suspect to smuggle drugs out of the country,' Lt. Gen. Choengron said. 'It was a deliberate departure.' The footage had reportedly been shared with media outlets in an attempt to debunk Bella's courtroom testimony in Tblisi, where she claimed she "didn't want to do this" and was Bella's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, claimed corrupt Thai police officers were in on the trafficking ring and that when Bella turned to one for help, she realised he was part of the gang. 11 Cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage, police said 11 Bella May Culley claims she was coerced into transporting £200k worth of cannabis Credit: NCJ 11 Bella has said she never touched the drugs found in her suitcase Credit: Facebook Salakaia alleged she and her family were He went on to claim that "They told her: we know the addresses of your parents, we know where your 16-year-old brother is", before showing her a video of a person being beheaded. The court was also shown a scar on her arm which Salakaia said was inflicted before the suitcase containing the drugs - which she allegedly never touched - was given to her. But Thai police say it's all an attempt to wriggle out of punishment. Officials believe the teen's high-stakes tale is part of a strategy to secure a lighter sentence in Georgia. The Georgian prosecution has charged her with "illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics" and "illegally importing them into the country". Thai cops said she would now be blacklisted for entering the country "to commit a drug offence", citing a breach of Section 12 of the Immigration Act. Inside the dark world of Brit 'drug mules' A SLEW of drug mule arrests involving Brits have emerged in the last few months. In April and May, Bella was the first after she allegedly tried to smuggle a suitcase of weed into Georgia. Meanwhile, former air stewardess Her two suitcases were said to have been stuffed with 46kg of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl. If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence. As a young mum was detained in Germany for allegedly smuggling cannabis in her bags on a flight from Thailand - in yet another shocking case. Glamorous Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth, Herts, was detained at Munich Airport on April 21 as she tried to collect her luggage. It comes as a Brit couple claiming to be tourists from Thailand have been busted with more than 33kg of cannabis in their suitcases at a Spanish airport. The pair were picked out by suspicious cops at Valencia Airport after displaying a 'nervous and evasive attitude' and are now behind bars on drug trafficking charges. Experts told The Sun how wannabe Brit Insta stars are being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world. Then last month, a six-year-old British The lad was picked up by customs officials along with his mum and five other Brits as they arrived on the tropical island. Authorities branded the
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Terrified Bella Culley's ‘silent cries for help' revealed as Brit mule ‘was WATCHED by drugs gang going through airport'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRUG "mule" Bella Culley's silent cries for help have been revealed as she "was watched" by a drugs gang going through the airport, her lawyer has claimed. Bella, 19, was told yesterday that her trial on drug smuggling charges has been postponed amid talks over a possible 'plea bargain' deal. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Thai police have now released CCTV footage of the Brit going through the automated gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 On Bella's first court appearance she announced she was pregnant 11 Police confirmed she used a British passport to exit Thailand Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 11 Bella Culley seen in court at the beginning of July as her devastated family watched on Credit: Supplied 11 The teenager appeared at Tbilisi City Court on Thursday after claiming she had been burned with a hot iron and shown a beheading video by a Thailand-based gang. Bella was arrested on arrival at the airport at Georgian capital Tbilisi in May with £200,000 worth of cannabis in her hold baggage. But she has since claimed the bag was checked in by a gang member and she never saw it before Georgian police stopped her at customs. Bella's attempt to escape a jail term has been complicated by the release of Thai CCTV footage said to contradict her claims that she tried to alert cops at Bangkok airport. The next hearing was yesterday put back to July 24 while prosecutors and Bella's Georgian lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia attempt to strike a deal. He told The Sun how cops missed her silent cries for help. Mr Salakaia said: "I fail to see how that's substantial. Of course they are going to say that. 'What hasn't been said or shown is the fact that the people who brought and handed in this baggage were still nearby and she couldn't communicate openly. 'She tried to signal it to them, without being noticed herself, that it wasn't her baggage but wasn't paid any attention." Trainee nurse Bella, from Billingham, Teesside - who got pregnant on the Far East backpacking trip where she met British gang members - faces a life jail term. Brit thugs forced 'drug mule' Bella May Culley to watch man be beheaded…and told her 'we'll do that to you', lawyer says The teenager - in a pink t-shirt showing her baby bump - was again supported in court on Thursday by her oil rig worker father Niel, 39, who urged her to 'stay strong' as she fought to stay composed. The next hearing was put back to July 24 while prosecutors and Bella's lawyer Salakaia attempt to strike a deal. Mr Salakaia told The Sun: "The sides have entered the phase of negotiation over the plea bargain, to see whether this could be an eventual option. 'We haven't reached agreement yet. Our position is the release of my client and paying the fine. We ll see where we end up after negotiations". Bella has been held for 61 days at Tbilisi's Number Five Women's Penitentiary accused of importing 31lbs of cannabis and hashish. She flew from Bangkok via Sharjah in Abu Dhabi on May 10 and her lawyer revealed she was unsure where she was when she was arrested. A Georgian police spokesman confirmed that, if found guilty, she could face between 20 years in jail and a life term. Bella claimed baggage containing the cannabis was carried to the airport for her and put in the plane's hold when she boarded a flight from Bangkok in May. 11 Cops said cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage Credit: Unpixs 11 The Brit told a court she was tortured into trafficking £200,000-worth of cannabis by evil crimelords Credit: Facebook 11 She was caught at Tblisi International Airport with 30 pounds of marijuana and hashish in her luggage on May 10 Credit: Prime Time Her family launched a missing person hunt in Thailand after she vanished on holiday but she turned up under arrest 4,000 miles away in the European nation. Then on her first court appearance she announced she was pregnant. CCTV footage of Bella was released, which cops say rubbishes her claim she was coerced into transporting the £200,000 drug stash. Police Major General Cherngron Rimphadee said a few weeks ago: 'This matter is not complicated. 'Police have reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed that she used a British passport to exit through the automatic passport control channel. 'As a result, she did not interact with or speak to any immigration officers and simply exited the country.' Thai authorities say Bella's claims of seeking help from customs staff are "absolutely baseless". Surveillance shows the teen, from Billingham, Teesside, apparently passing calmly through Suvarnabhumi Airport's automated gates without raising any red flags. 'There is no evidence whatsoever that any immigration or police officers forced or threatened the suspect to smuggle drugs out of the country,' Lt. Gen. Choengron said. 'It was a deliberate departure.' The footage had reportedly been shared with media outlets in an attempt to debunk Bella's courtroom testimony in Tblisi, where she claimed she "didn't want to do this" and was allegedly forced under torture. Bella's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, claimed corrupt Thai police officers were in on the trafficking ring and that when Bella turned to one for help, she realised he was part of the gang. 11 Cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella's luggage, police said 11 Bella May Culley claims she was coerced into transporting £200k worth of cannabis Credit: NCJ 11 Bella has said she never touched the drugs found in her suitcase Credit: Facebook Salakaia alleged she and her family were threatened with beheading if she didn't comply. He went on to claim that "They told her: we know the addresses of your parents, we know where your 16-year-old brother is", before showing her a video of a person being beheaded. The court was also shown a scar on her arm which Salakaia said was inflicted before the suitcase containing the drugs - which she allegedly never touched - was given to her. But Thai police say it's all an attempt to wriggle out of punishment. Officials believe the teen's high-stakes tale is part of a strategy to secure a lighter sentence in Georgia. The Georgian prosecution has charged her with "illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics" and "illegally importing them into the country". Thai cops said she would now be blacklisted for entering the country "to commit a drug offence", citing a breach of Section 12 of the Immigration Act.
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit gang 'threatened to decapitate' 'drug mule' and 'said they'd kill family'
Bella Culley, 18, is facing 20 years behind bars in a Georgian prison when she goes on trial next week for allegedly smuggling 11kg of cannabis into the Black Sea nation A teen drug mule suspect claims a group of British gangsters threatened to decapitate her and kill her family if she refused to smuggle cannabis for them in Thailand. Bella Culley, a pregnant 18-year-old from Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, is currently languishing in Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in Tbilisi, Georgia after being caught with the drugs as she entered the country in May. Her trial is next week and she could be sentenced to 20 years if found guilty of drug smuggling. The 18-year-old claims the gang burned her with an iron, around the time she sent a desperate text to her family, begging them to: "HELP ME". In her defence, she is also claiming she tried to approach a police officer in Bangkok to tell them she was being coerced into acting for the gang. The officers then allegedly took her back to the same people who were abusing her. She is being defended by Malkhaz Salakaia - a well-respected lawyer who investigated an assassination attempt on a former president of her country. Mr Salakaia claims the young Brit "is not of the age to carefully consider what could have happened to her". Speaking about how the alleged gang targeted her in Bangkok, Mr Salakaia told the MailOnline: "They told her: we know the addresses of your parents, we know where your 16-year-old brother is. "They made her watch a video of a man being decapitated and told her: if you don't do as told, this is what is going to happen to you and your family. She felt queasy and almost fainted but they still forced her to watch it." He claims that she also still has burn marks on her arm. He said: "She was, so to say, branded — a hot iron was pressed on her arm. She was forced to do this — there was both psychological and physical pressure, the trace of which is still visible. "As to what connection did she have with this group - she knew several of them — they are British. At first, she knew one, and then through him met the others. However, we have grounds to assume that this group also had local accomplices, including in Thailand." Mr Salakaia also relayed how Bella tried to message her family while this was all happening. He said they told her she had to take the luggage they gave her, and she would have to carry it from "point A to point B, to this or that country" under the threat of killing her if she didn't. Unlike other mules, she was not enticed with a "potential reward or deal". "Bella was simply forced to do this", he added. Relaying the story of how Bella approached the Thai police, Mr Salakaia made a bold allegation against officers in the capital, suggesting some kind of involvement. "This allows the simplest conclusion — that this group, so to say, had things arranged with the local police," he said.
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit teen 'drug mule' Bella Culley cries giving her side of story for first time
In an emotional court appearance in Georgia, the 19-year-old said: 'I didn't want to do this. I was forced by torture. I just wanted to travel. I study at the university… to become a nurse.' Suspected British drug smuggler Bella Culley sobbed today appearing in a Georgian court – claiming she had been 'forced by torture'. The teenager faces life behind bars after being arrested earlier this year for allegedly taking cannabis into the ex-Soviet state. The 19-year-old appeared in court in capital Tbilisi on Tuesday where she cried – with a lawyer handing her a napkin for her tears. She told the court: 'I didn't want to do this. I was forced by torture. I just wanted to travel. I study at the university… to become a nurse. All I wanted to do was to travel and this happened to me. I'm clean - I had nothing in my blood test. I wanted to make my family proud. Thanks for listening.' The youngster's dad, Neil, and aunt were present. Bella's lawyer Malkaz Salakaia said his client was told she would be approached by some people in Tbilisi airport, but this did not happen as she was taken by the customs officer in Georgia. The lawyer asked Bella to show the court her hand with a bruise – apparently caused by an iron in Thailand. Bella stood up, showing the court her right hand and cleared her tears before sitting down looking at her family. Mr Salakaia said his client was tortured with a hot iron on her right hand. Bella approached a policeman to seek help but he turned out to be part of the criminal group too, the lawyer told the court. The Brit went missing in Thailand before turning up in Georgia in May, accused of taking in about 14kg of cannabis and hashish into the country. Her lawyer said there was no risk of her leaving the country, asking for bail but was denied. The judge Lela Kalichenko told the court that Bella, from Bellingham on Teeside, is pregnant and had not committed any crime before. She seems young and the family supports her, the judge said. Bella says she was forced to take the case and did not know what was inside, the judge added. Bella left the court crying – and was told by her family: 'Try not to worry. Good girl.' She is due to appear in court again on 10 July. Her newly-appointed lawyer Mr Salakaia previously said in May: 'We will defend her innocence at the court.' At a meeting in May, her lawyer Mr Salakaia reportedly said he had to explain to Bella where she was geographically. He said Bella was in "good health" – but would not describe her as an adequate adult, the BBC reported. Their first meeting was said to have lasted two hours. The lawyer said his client was ready to defend herself in court. Mr Salakaia said Bella does not have any complaints about the location of detention. Asked whether he would describe Bella as an adequate adult, he answered "no". His impression was that she was "not far from childhood". During the meeting, Bella was reportedly also giving evidence to investigators.
