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CCTV footage shows Cassandra Sainsbury's final moments before drug arrest

Exclusive new CCTV images reveal the final moments of freedom for a young Australian woman accused of trying to smuggle kilograms of cocaine out of Colombia.

The images show Cassandra Sainsbury, 22, leaving a hotel with her suitcase in hand; the same suitcase in which it is alleged she had 5.8 kilograms of the illegal drug.

Shortly afterwards the South Australian was in the custody of Colombian authorities who said the drugs were found stashed in headphones in her luggage.

New pictures: Exclusive images obtained by 7 News show Cassandra Sainsbury leaving her hotel, just a short time before her arrest in Bogota. Photo: 7 News
New pictures: Exclusive images obtained by 7 News show Cassandra Sainsbury leaving her hotel, just a short time before her arrest in Bogota. Photo: 7 News

Since April 12, Ms Sainsbury has remained in a Bogota prison, with lawyers suggesting she may need to plead guilty in order to get home to Australia without risking decades in a South American prison.

New pictures: Ms Sainsbury claims she is innocent. Photo: 7 News
New pictures: Ms Sainsbury claims she is innocent. Photo: 7 News

Leading up to her arrest Ms Sainsbury left a trail of her travels in social media posts and also spoke of looking forward to a "life-changing" event.


Ms Sainsbury made several social media posts before and on her trip. Photo: Supplied
Ms Sainsbury made several social media posts before and on her trip. Photo: Supplied

While her family insists she was on a working holiday, her fiancé tells a different story.

Luggage tags show she had successfully checked in to board Flight AV120 from Bogota to London’s Heathrow Airport, flying with Avianca Airways.

While she faces up to 25 years if convicted, her lawyer, Orlando Herran, has advised the 22-year-old to plead guilty in an attempt to lessen the sentence.

The confession could result in her serving a four-year term, with two in Bogota and the remaining two years back in Australia in home detention.

New pictures: Ms Sainsbury is shown with the suitcase carrying almost 6kg of cocaine. Photo: 7 News
New pictures: Ms Sainsbury is shown with the suitcase carrying almost 6kg of cocaine. Photo: 7 News

Should she decide to fight the charge it would take at least two years to have the matter heard and may lead to a 20-year sentence.

Mr Herran believes she’s innocent.

“I’m thinking that Cassandra was used as a ‘mule’ ... the police says ‘I’m sorry, this is drugs ... this is your baggage ... you are guilty’,” he said.

“(It is) very sad, very sad... she is crying permanently.”

Sainsbury's lawyer says he believes she was tricked into carrying drugs.
Sainsbury's lawyer says he believes she was tricked into carrying drugs.