A pregnant British woman jailed in Georgia for drug smuggling is now in a mother-and-baby unit after her family paid £137,000 to reduce her sentence.

Bella Culley, a 19-year-old pregnant British woman arrested in May 2024 at Tbilisi International Airport with 12 kg of marijuana and 2 kg of hashish, has been transferred to a mother and baby unit in Georgia’s Rustavi Prison. Previously held under harsh conditions, she now has access to a private toilet, shower, outdoor time, and a kitchen where she cooks meals. Her family paid £137,000 to reduce her potential 20-year sentence to two years. Georgia’s prison reforms, including improved healthcare and vocational training, are cited by officials as enhancing conditions, though some reports describe ongoing hygiene issues. A 2023 UN visit raised no public concerns, and plea bargaining is common in drug cases. Culley claims she was pressured to carry the drugs.