United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Pair admit smuggling £12 million of cocaine onto cruise from Southampton
Two Canadians have admitted trying to smuggle £12 million of cocaine onto a cruise from Southampton to Sydney.
Melina Roberge, aged 23, and Andre Tamine, 64, had initially denied being involved in the plot to smuggle 95kgs of drugs on the Sea Princess in 2016.
However, the pair from Quebec reportedly changed their plea to guilty before the start of their trail in Australia this week.
Their Accomplice, fellow Canadian and former porn model Isballe Lagace, 28, had previously admitted to her part in the plot and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
The drugs were discovered by sniffer dogs when the ship arrived in Sydney at the end of the seven-week voyage in August 2016.
It was the biggest ever haul of drugs on a passenger boat in Australia, said authorties.
The three were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, an offence which carries a life-long prison sentence.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel