Expert reveals how women are getting so easily embroiled in drug smuggling offences

After the news of two British women being arrested for in separate offences, the question arises of how this keeps happening. Bella May Culley, from Teeside, vanished in Thailand before turning up in Georgia, where she now potentially faces life in jail after allegedly importing cannabis.

Last week, mere days after news of Bella's case broke, Charlotte May Lee was arrested after landing in Sri Lanka from Thailand after being accused of smuggling 46kg of Kush - a synthetic form of cannabis - into the country. The former stewardess, from Surrey, is . Both women deny the offences.

Back in December 2023, two young women from Blackburn were caught smuggling more than 35kg of in their suitcase on a flight home to the UK. Sophie Bannister, 30, and Levi-April Whalley, 31, spoke out recently for the first time since their 15-month 'torture'." We were stupid and naive and vulnerable," Sophie said, after the pair were handed suspended sentences at Preston Crown Court this week

Behavioural criminologist Alex Iszatt has now shared the reason why young and glamorous women are getting caught up in notorious drug cartels - and why the criminals target 'innocent' Brits.

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"Bella May Culley didn’t think she was a drug smuggler. Charlotte May Lee insists she never saw the 46 kilos of Kush stuffed into her luggage. Two more British women, just months before them, claimed they’d been tricked after answering a social media ad for a free holiday.

"The stories differ, but the blueprint is the same: a young woman, often travelling alone, naive to the risks, suddenly staring down a foreign prison sentence," Alex told the . He went on to reveal that these drug cartels don't want "hardened criminals" but instead prefer women who are "fresh-faced, relatable and seemingly innocent".

These criminals prey on those who can pass through customs without "raising suspicion" and can blend in. Detailing how such plans are put into motion, Alex continued: "The recruitment game starts quietly: a flirty message, a friendly face in a bar, a helpful traveller with 'insider tips.' Whether it’s dressed up as romance, friendship, or opportunity, it’s all grooming—fast trust, fast flattery, then manipulation."

Alex noted that Bella Culley's lawyer has asserted she doesn’t fit the typical profile, but her social media paints a different picture. He explained: "While in Thailand, she posted about a guy called Russ, boasting about a 'Bonnie and Clyde' lifestyle. That's not someone trying to stay under the radar."

Instead, the expert said the 18-year-old wanted to project an image of being "bold, rebellious, maybe even dangerous" and said she may have been manipulated through the relationship. However, her posts hint at someone attempting to rewrite the narrative—to assert a sense of control.

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"We don’t know how she is at home; she could be the same, but this trip may have brought something out in her —whether from boredom, insecurity, or a need to prove herself. Meeting a stranger abroad and getting caught up in dangerous situations is risky, but for her, that risk may have felt thrilling. Empowering, even," Alex added.

He went on to describe Charlotte May Lee as a "cautionary tale for any traveller". The 21-year-old claimed she packed her bags the night before her early morning flight, had gone out for a few drinks and grabbed her bag in the morning without checking it properly. However, she was also flying out to meet a man abroad, whom she reportedly barely knew.

The expert noted how these women don't find the idea of a "traditional" criminal, but do fit the psychological profile of someone groomed. "Grooming isn’t always sexual or romantic. It’s about power, control, and manipulation," Alex said. He suggested these women's behaviour could show a "powerful emotional override".

"A craving for connection, validation, or fantasy so strong it silences all internal alarm bells. These women don’t just ignore the red flags—they convince themselves the red flags are part of the adventure. That’s when they become vulnerable. Not because they’re stupid, but because they want to believe in something too much."

By being groomed, the exploitation is turned into a business model, and these cartels don't even need a hard sell. By asking the women "don't you trust me?" and telling them "it's just clothes" make the favours seem small - and sometimes they may not even know what's in the bag.

Alex explained: "Social media plays a dangerous role. The glamorisation of risk, rebellion, and outlaw behaviour normalises danger. Bella’s 'Bonnie and Clyde' posts aren’t harmless captions—they signal a mindset that views crime as edgy, exciting, and cinematic. But let’s not be naive. Some of these women know more than they admit."

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He said the cartels target the "willing", the kind of people who think they're "too clever" to get caught. Despite many getting away with it, seasoned mules are drilled and coached. Alex explained how amateurs make "rookie mistakes" such as acting nervous, saying the wrong thing, or claiming the bag at the wrong moment.

"Sometimes it’s just bad luck—getting pulled at random or flagged because they’re flying from high-risk countries like Thailand or . Arrests don’t always come from clever detection at the airport. Sometimes it’s intelligence sharing. If one mule gets caught, they might give up the route or network, making the next carrier a sitting duck. Other times, it’s a tip-off or a pattern customs officers have been briefed on."

According to Alex, when someone is stopped, the first words out of their mouth are the most important. "If they really didn’t pack the bag or if it was out of their sight, that needs to be said immediately." However, most don't, they may freeze, lie or panic - which sounds more like damage control.

"A truly innocent person might be shocked and terrified—but going to the authorities could still land them as a suspect. Many don’t report anything at all—either out of fear, guilt, or because deep down, they weren’t that surprised," the expert shared.

"That’s how grooming works: it slowly dismantles judgment. If you’re flattered, flattered, flattered…and then something dodgy happens, you’re more likely to freeze, rationalise it, or stay silent than take action. And if you’ve been promised thousands of pounds, or protection, or safety—if you suspect but don’t know—you might carry on, repeating what the groomer told you: 'If anything goes wrong, don’t panic. Just keep walking.' And that’s exactly what traffickers are counting on," Alex concluded.

Both Bella May Culley and Charlotte May Lee deny having committed drug smuggling offences.

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com

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