Cassie Sainsbury will serve six years in prison after striking a plea deal with Colombian prosecutors on her drug smuggling charges.
The Adelaide woman agreed to reveal the identities of others in the drug ring to receive a lighter sentence – she was looking at least 20 years in prison before the deal.
WATCH: Cassie Sainsbury is picture smiling from behind bars. Post continues…
The 22-year-old was caught at Bogota international airport in April with 5.8kilograms of cocaine inside 18 separate headphone cases she initially said her presents for her family and friends.
The accused drug smuggler’s sister, Khala Sainsbury, told News Corp that she now fears reprisal attacks.
“She [Cassie] got told to be quiet otherwise they’d come after her family,” she said.
“My ultimate fear is bringing her home in a body bag.”
“I’m worried about my little sister. I never thought anything like this would happen in a million years.”
“I love her. I’ll always love her – she’s my sister.”
Kahla also said the ordeal may have permanently sullied her sister’s reputation.
“It’s going to be hard for her to do anything,” Khala told Seven News.
“She’s always going to be labelled as ‘Cocaine Cassie’.”
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Sainsbury’s case should serve as another warning to Australians travelling overseas.
“People need to abide by the laws of that country. If not, they will face serious consequences,” he told Seven on Thursday.
Mr Dutton also revealed that the government had provided consular assistance to Sainsbury, but had not funded her legal case.
Cassie, who worked as a personal trainer in Adelaide, was discovered with nearly six kilograms of cocaine packed into her suitcase as she tried to fly home to Australia on April 11 from El Dorado International Airport.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) contacted Colombian authorities after her plane ticket home to Australia via London was purchased last minute by an “unknown party” in Hong Kong.
