Cassandra Sainsbury, 22, was detained on April 11 at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on her way back to Australia, her family says.
Her sister has started an online campaign to raise funds for legal fees and says she is innocent.
“The authorities rushed through her hearing, and was denied bail. It sounds like they want to make an example of her,” Khala Sainsbury said on the FundRazr page.
“Now because of being denied bail, she is now being held at Colombia’s biggest women’s prison, which is over populated by about 50,000 people.”
Her family says she is facing up to 25 years in jail. She is currently in El Buen Pastor women’s prison.
Sainsbury’s mother, Lisa Evans, said she was “scared to death” for her daughter.
“I’m devastated that my little girl is in this place. Our family just wants her home safe,” she said on FundRazr.
Sainsbury’s sister was due to pick her up from Adelaide Airport on Good Friday.
The cocaine was reportedly hidden inside headphones Sainsbury bought before her departure.
“They X-rayed her luggage and they found 5.8kg of cocaine concealed in packaging which was meant to be gifts for people for her bridal party and family friends,” sister Khala told The Advertiser.
“She’s supposed to be getting married next year and (the cocaine) was all concealed in the packaging of headphones she bought.”
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing assistance to an Australian woman arrested in Colombia but offered no further details due to privacy.
– AAP
