Sainsbury appeals for taxpayer help

Accused drug mule Cassandra Sainsbury has asked the Australian government to help cover her legal costs as she fights drug smuggling charges in Colombia.

Ms Sainsbury was detained at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport on April 12 after 5.8 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found hidden inside 18 headphone boxes in her suitcase.

Her Bogota lawyer Orlando Herran has told News Corp that the 22-year-old South Australian applied for financial assistance last week.

"They are looking for state funds in Australia for the legal costs, so she was signing a form for that, to put before the government there," Mr Herran said.