French women held in Georgia for paracetamol possession

Two French women have been held in Georgia after they were found with
Dafalgan (the French brand name for paracetamol) containing codeine, a
painkiller readily available in French pharmacies on prescription.

Also known as co-codamol, the pills are available in other countries
including the UK without a doctor's note, but they are banned in
Georgia which takes a hard line against any opiate-derived medication.

One of the two women, Arzu Bilici, from Strasbourg in eastern France,
told France Info radio on Wednesday that she was holidaying in Turkey
when she decided to take a day trip to neighbouring Georgia.

She explained that customs officers found her pills, which she uses
for headaches, and she and another unnamed woman were arrested for
possession of a banned substance.

Bilici was told she was being fined 2,500 euros and was ordered to
remain in Georgia until a court confirmed the penalty. She and the
other woman have been stranded there for more than a week.

She explained to France Info that the French embassy in Georgia's
capital Tiblisi had told her: "We can't do anything for you. Count
yourself lucky you are not in jail."

According to France Info, the woman was living in her car which was
parked outside the Tiblisi courtroom.

Following the story, Reuters contacted a French foreign ministry
spokesman who said that all possible consular assistance was being
given to the women.

"We hope the court process will conclude as soon as possible," the
spokesman said, adding that the ministry's website warns citizens that
certain prescription medicines are banned in some countries, including
Georgia.