The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a stark warning to Brits travelling abroad and has updated its travel advice for 48 countries. People flying to places like Spain, Greece, and Turkey are being warned to expect serious consequences if they are caught with illegal substances.
Many countries have upgraded their airport scanning technology, increasing the likelihood of being caught with illicit substances, officials said. Those found guilty of possessing, using or smuggling drugs could be hit with hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences.
The updated travel guidance for almost 50 countries follows the arrest of an 18-year-old Brit Bella Culley, who potentially faces life in prison on drug charges. She stands accused of illegally purchasing, possessing and importing substantial amounts of narcotics, including cannabis.
Culley, from Billingham in Teesside, is thought to have disappeared from Thailand, only to be apprehended at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia, some 3,700 miles away, on these charges. According to reports, she was allegedly caught attempting to smuggle 14kg of cannabis into the country.
In a social media post on X, the official @FCDOtravelGovUK said: "Don't smuggle illegal drugs. There are severe penalties for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including cannabis. Airports have excellent technology to detect items, including in the baggage of transiting passengers."
You can check the latest Foreign Office travel advice on the gov.uk website, which lists 226 countries. A statement on the page reads: "Get advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences."
The 48 countries Foreign Office has updated its Safety and Security advice:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Latvia
- Bosnia and Hertzegovena
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- Croatia
- Cyprus,
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Hungar
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo,
- Lichtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain,
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- USA
The latest advice itself for the majority of countries reads: "Updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes the risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through the airport."
It adds: "Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports."
For popular holiday destinations, like Greece, the Foreign Office says: "Airports in Greece have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. Possession of even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to a long prison sentence. Nitrous oxide is illegal to buy or sell for recreational use. You could be arrested or fined."
Similarly, for the Netherlands, the government says: "Airports in the Netherlands have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers."
As for Turkey, Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. The government adds: "You should expect a long prison sentence of 4 to 24 years and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports."
