A 21-year-old British woman's dream holiday to Egypt has turned into a living nightmare after she was sentenced to two years in a Cairo prison for possessing a THC vape pen.
Bella Culley, a university student from Nottinghamshire, was travelling to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada for a holiday when her life took a devastating turn during a transit stop in Cairo International Airport.
The nightmare began when security officials discovered the cannabis vape device in her hand luggage. "They took me to a room and started questioning me," Bella recounted through her distraught family. "I was terrified - I didn't understand what was happening at first."
From Sunshine Holiday to Prison Cell
What should have been a week of sunshine and relaxation quickly descended into horror. Instead of checking into her beachfront hotel, Bella found herself being processed through the Egyptian judicial system.
Her family back in the UK received the devastating news through a panicked phone call. "We're absolutely broken," her mother told reporters. "We never imagined something like this could happen."
A Harsh Lesson in Foreign Laws
The case highlights the severe consequences facing British tourists who fail to respect strict drug laws in foreign countries. While cannabis possession might result in a warning in the UK, Egyptian authorities treat such offences with extreme severity.
Travel experts are urging holidaymakers to thoroughly research local laws before travelling. "What seems minor at home can lead to years in prison abroad," warned a Foreign Office spokesperson.
Family's Desperate Plea for Help
Bella's family are now campaigning for her release, describing her as "a young girl who made a mistake." They've launched a fundraising campaign to cover legal costs and are appealing to the British government for assistance.
"She's terrified, alone in a foreign prison," her mother said, fighting back tears. "We just want our daughter home."
The Foreign Office has confirmed they're providing support to a British national detained in Egypt and are in contact with both the individual and Egyptian authorities.
