Cassie Sainsbury back in Adelaide for first time since her cocaine smuggling sentence

Convicted drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury was spotted laughing and joking with wife Tatiana on arrival back in Adelaide – but secrecy remains on her reported TV deal.

Convicted South Australian drug trafficker “Cocaine Cassie” Sainsbury has arrived back in Adelaide for the first time since she was arrested smuggling 5.8kg of cocaine out of Colombia in 2017.

Travelling on a Qantas flight 739 from Sydney on Tuesday, Ms Sainsbury, born Cassandra, touched down at Adelaide airport just before 2pm.

The 27-year-old was flying with her new wife Tatiana, journalist Jonica Williams and a cameraman who filmed her as she exited the terminal.

Ms Williams tried to block The Advertiser’s photographer as they disembarked the plane.

Ms Sainsbury appeared in good spirits, laughing and joking with Tatiana.

The Advertiser understands Ms Sainsbury has an agreement with the Seven Network, the details of which are a closely guarded secret.

It is unclear how this would meet Australia’s strict anti-crime laws given her criminal history.

Asked to confirm the agreement and if Ms Sainsbury was being paid for an interview, Seven said it was unable to comment on Tuesday.

Cassie Sainsbury arrived at Adelaide airport on Tuesday with wife and TV crew in tow. Picture: Matt Loxton

Ms Sainsbury, whose family live in regional SA, also refused to comment.

She would not confirm whether she planned to visit family while in South Australia.

The married couple waited in an unknown location while Ms Williams and her accompanying cameraman collected their luggage and hired a vehicle from the airport.

Ms Sainsbury was dubbed “Cocaine Cassie” after she was arrested in Colombia in 2017 for trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine out of the country inside headphone cases.

She was sentenced to six years over the drug smuggling but was released in 2020, having served half of that sentence.

She is originally from Daveron Park, in Adelaide’s north, before she moved to the Yorke Peninsula as a child.

She arrived back in Australia last week.

Last week, her father, Stuart Sainsbury, 59, said he had not spoken to his daughter for more than five years.

He said their family had been “dragged through the mud” by Ms Sainsbury who he described as “full of s***”.

On Tuesday he said that he had still not heard from her and did not believe she would reach out.

Cassie Sainsbury, centre, arriving at Adelaide Airport, with her wife and minder journalist Jonica Williams. Picture: Matt Loxton

It is understood a special “tell-all” report with journalist Ross Coulthart is set to air on the Seven Network’s Spotlight program in the coming weeks.

Under the Commonwealth Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, a court can order payments to the Commonwealth of any proceeds a person derived from the commercial exploitation of the their notorierty resulting from committing an indictable offence.

This means that any criminal is banned from profiteering from any past crimes including through selling their story.