Armstrong carrying multiple driver's licences: report

Friends and family of Sharon Armstrong are concerned for the cocaine accused's health. Photo / Supplied

A New Zealand woman arrested in Argentina last week after trying to board a plane with a suitcase containing 5kg of cocaine is refusing to comment on reports she was carrying four driver's licences.

Sharon Armstrong, a former Maori Language Commission deputy chief executive, was arrested on April 13 after Buenos Aires Airport police allegedly found the cocaine hidden in her suitcase.

Ms Armstrong told Radio New Zealand she had seen a lawyer and expected to make her first court appearance next week, rather than overnight (NZT) as previously reported.

She refused to comment on reports she was carrying four driver's licences when she was arrested.

"I cant say anything about any of that... I just don't think I am in a position to be able to talk about any of that at this stage," she said.

Staff from the New Zealand Embassy in Buenos Aires had visited her in prison and had given her a Spanish dictionary, magazines and writing paper so she could write a journal.

A former colleague of Ms Armstrong yesterday told NZPA friends and family were concerned about her health.

Ms Armstrong had been hospital with heart problems about a year ago and had also had breathing problems, former chief executive of the Maori Language Commission, Haami Piripi said.

"We are very anxious to make sure that she gets the medications for her health problems," Mr Piripi said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) and embassy staff had "actively" been involved in her situation which gave people back home "some hope".

Close friends and family were setting up a defence fund to help her in what could be a long legal process, he said.

"It's going to be a long haul we suspect."

Some family and friends had planned to travel over to Argentina but had been advised they would not be able to visit her until the authorities gave the all clear.

"There would not be very much use going over there and not being able to have access to her," he said.

He said Ms Armstrong was living a "lonely existence" and her friends were working on finding a way of communicating with her "to help her keep her sanity".

"We are all really concerned because it is a non-English speaking country and she has no Spanish skills whatsoever."

Ms Armstrong, 54, earlier told The Dominion Post she was fooled into smuggling the drugs by a man she was dating online.

She wished to apologise to her family, who had repeatedly warned her she could be the target of a scam, and said she had been a "silly old lady".

Conditions at the medium-security Federal Centre of Detention for Women in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, where she was staying, were just passable, she said.

A spokeswoman from MFAT told NZPA today that embassy staff met with her in prison on Wednesday (Thursday morning NZT) and would continue to provide support where necessary.

The embassy had given her some vital supplies and provided her with a list of English speaking lawyers. It would continue to liaise with Argentine authorities and Ms Armstrong's family.

- NZPA