Two Canadian women 23-year-old Melina Roberge and 28-year-old Isabelle
Lagacé, who were on a dream world wide cruise were on Monday arrested by
the police in Australia, according to a release by the Australian
authorities.
Authorities say approximately 95 kilograms of cocaine
were allegedly found in the suitcases of the two friends and another
Canadian man, 63-year-old man, Andre Tamine who was travelling with them
when they arrived in Sydney on a cruise ship. All three were arrested
in Australia.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the value of the drugs was $30 million
Australian dollars, which is about $22 million in U.S. dollars.
The bust came on the 51st day of a 68-day cruise on the Sea Princess,
reports the Sydney Morning Herald. The Star states authorities were
prepared to search the ship when it arrived in Sydney after a joint
investigation which included the Canadian Border Service Agency and the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
They were aboard the MS Sea Princess cruise. Tickets for the MS Sea Princess cruise cost around £8,500
They shared photos from exotic locales around the world including
Tahiti, Peru, Bermuda, Morocco and more. "Traveling is one thing ... But
traveling with an open mind, ready to taste everything, see everything,
learn everything and get yourself out of your comfort zone .. Is
probably the best therapy and lesson ever," Roberge wrote in one post
from the holiday.
The women had spent the past two months cruising around the world and
documenting their lavish holiday on their public Instagram accounts.
According to Facebook accounts that appear to belong to them, Lagacé was
a waitress at a Longueuil bar and Roberge was a manager at a Montreal
jewelry store. According to their Instagram accounts, they began their
adventure on July 9 in Southampton, England.
Clive Murray from the Australian Border Forces said the bust came after work alongside US and Canadian authorities.
He said:
"These syndicates should be on notice that the Australian Border Force
is aware of all of the different ways they attempt to smuggle drugs into
our country and we are working with a range of international agencies
to stop them."
AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Operations Shane Connelly said:
"Today’s successful operation has resulted in three arrests and we will
not rule out further activity as we continue our investigations. "The
AFP is committed to working with its partner agencies to protect the
community by stopping these dangerous drugs making their way to
Australian communities, and bringing those responsible to justice."
The trio have been charged with importing drugs and are due in court
this week and now face life imprisonment if convicted of drug smuggling
in Australia, where cocaine prices are among the highest in the world.
Source: People magazine/AFP
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