APA British teenager could spend up to nine months in a Georgian prison while she is investigated on suspicion of drug offences.
Bella Culley, 18, from Billingham on Teesside, was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, and charged with importing large quantities of narcotics.
The prosecutor asked for 55 days to find evidence before the case is brought to trial and the BBC understands this could be extended by a further seven months. At the end of a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday Miss Culley told the court she was pregnant.
Her lawyer, Ia Todua, said police wanted to establish where 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lbs) of hashish had come from and whether she was "planning to hand it over to someone".
Ms Todua, who has been appointed by the state to represent the teenager, said the prosecution estimated they would need two months to gather information.
"They said that they had to conduct a lot of investigative activities, so that they can collect evidence, establish where it was from [the narcotics] and was she planning to hand it over to someone," she said.
"That's what they said they want to establish, and they also confiscated her phone."
The lawyer added that, at the end of the hearing, Miss Culley "told the court that she was pregnant".
Rayhan DemytrieThe BBC understands other lawyers had been in touch to represent Miss Culley and the British consular service has planned a meeting.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that it is "supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia".
Georgian Police said officers had seized marijuana and the narcotic drug hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport.
Bella CulleyMiss Culley was charged by Georgian police with illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics.
A spokesperson said the arrest was the result of a joint operation between multiple departments and, if found guilty, Miss Culley could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment.
Cleveland Police has confirmed an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia "on suspicion of drugs offences" and remains in custody.
