Thai Immigration Refutes British Teen’s Torture and Drug Smuggling Allegations

Brickinfo News Agency – Thai immigration authorities have strongly refuted claims made by Bella May Culley, a 19-year-old British national currently facing drug trafficking charges in Georgia. Culley alleged that she was tortured and coerced into smuggling drugs out of Thailand. However, Thai Immigration Bureau 2 Commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Choengron Rimpadee, presented airport surveillance footage on July 2 that contradicts her testimony, showing her walking normally through Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Lt. Gen. Choengron Rimpadee stated that there is “absolutely no factual basis” to Culley’s claims. He highlighted CCTV footage from Suvarnabhumi Airport showing Culley proceeding through the automated passport control (ABC) channel without seeking any assistance or exhibiting signs of distress. Thai immigration records confirm her departure from Thailand on May 10, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. via Air Arabia flight G9822, which departed at 8:55 a.m. for Sharjah, UAE.

“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 emphasized. He suggested that Culley’s allegations are likely an attempt to reduce her potential sentence in Georgia. Consequently, Thai authorities will now register her in their immigration system as a prohibited person due to credible evidence of her involvement in drug trafficking activities.

The immigration chief also noted the consistent efforts of airport immigration to intercept travelers involved in illegal activities. He highlighted the collaborative work with agencies such as Customs and the Office of Narcotics Control Board. Since the beginning of this year, Thai authorities have assisted in 10 drug seizure arrests in cooperation with outbound customs operations.

According to British media reports, Bella Culley appeared before a Tbilisi City Court on July 1, pleading not guilty to charges of possessing and trafficking substantial quantities of illegal drugs.

She displayed a scar on her wrist to the court, which she claimed was inflicted in Thailand before she was given a suitcase containing drugs. This suitcase was subsequently seized at Tbilisi Airport. Culley asserted she was unaware of the suitcase’s contents, and her lawyers argued that it was “impossible” for her to have committed the crime, suggesting she was set up by unidentified individuals in Thailand.

The university student, who was pursuing a nursing degree, arrived in Thailand from the Philippines before her disappearance on May 10, leaving her family without contact.

“I didn’t want to do this. I was forced by torture. I just wanted to travel,” Culley told the court, adding that her blood tests were “clean.” Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, further claimed that she was threatened with a hot iron and that a policeman she approached for help was allegedly part of the criminal group.

Culley has been detained for 52 days during the investigation into the origins of 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish found in her travel bag. Judge Lela Kalichenko denied bail, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 10.