Student who went missing in Thailand arrested more than 4,000 miles away in shocking twist

A British student who went missing in Thailand has been detained more than 4,000 miles away on suspicion of drug offences.

18-year-old Bella Culley was enjoying a vacation on the popular backpacking route of southeast Asia, and started posting photos of her trip on social media, which began in the Philippines, on April 28.

Bella hopped across islands in the nation before arriving in Thailand on 3 May, where she was last heard from by family until being detained by authorities some 4,000 miles away in Georgia, which is located in the Eastern European region of South Caucasus.

Culley, who has reportedly claimed she is pregnant, has since been charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics including marijuana.

It is currently unclear how or why the young woman travelled from Thailand to Georgia.

Bella Culley has been arrested in Georgia and faces time in prison on drug charges (Facebook/Bella Culley)

Ia Todua, who has been appointed by the state to represent Culley, confirmed the Brit did not speak during a hearing, before she was sent to an same-sex pre-trial detention facility in the Georgian city of Rustavi - some 30km from the capital of Tbilisi.

Culley's representative confirmed the teen arrived in Georgia on Saturday (May 10) and was held a temporary detention centre until the trial took place on Tuesday (May 13).

Todua said: "She was so clenched, she is a child, in my personal opinion. When she was explained the essence of the accusation she was worried to speak.

"When we asked her to testify at that moment she decided to choose silence."

Culley had been charged on Monday with 'the illegal purchase and possession of a particularly large amount of narcotics, the illegal purchase and possession of the narcotic drug marijuana, and the illegal importation of the drug into Georgia', Georgian police confirmed.

The drugs were found in a bag belonging to Culley at Tbilisi International Airport.

Culley, who reportedly claims to be pregnant, was taken into custody by police in Georgia (Georgia Police)

Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement: "Law enforcement officers, as a result of defendant's luggage inspection at Tbilisi International Airport, seized a particularly large amount of the narcotic drug marijuana, up to 12 kilograms and 2.068 kg of the narcotic drug hashish as evidence."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the UK has said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia and are in contact with the local authorities."

Georgian authorities have said Culley could spent up to 20 years behind bars if she is found guilty.

Ironically, Culley spoke about getting up to 'criminal activities' in a TikTok video uploaded prior to her vacation.

"Blonde or brunette? Erm how about we get up to criminal activities side by side like Bonnie n' Clyde making heavy figures and f**king on balconies all over the world," the teen wrote in the caption to the clip.