Accused drug smugglers show off luxury cruise holiday before being arrested in Sydney
Social media snaps of two Canadian women accused of smuggling 95kg of cocaine into Australia aboard a cruise ship have revealed their lavish holiday that was quickly brought to an end in Sydney.
Isabelle Lagace, 28, and Melina Roberge, 22, documented their trip around North and South America and the Pacific with countless photos of them in bikinis, shopping and sunbaking.
The pair, along with 63-year-old fellow Canadian Andre Tamine, were allegedly carrying the substance in their suitcases aboard the Sea Princess, in what authorities claim is a record haul.
The trio arrived in Sydney on Sunday and were arrested after police and sniffer dogs searched the vessel when it berthed.
"Certainly for Australia it's the biggest narcotics seizure off a cruise vessel coming into Australia," Australian Border Force regional commander Tim Fitzgerald told reporters on Monday.
"This is the biggest seizure of narcotics through a passenger stream, so either through the airport or cruise ships, this 95kg of cocaine is the largest seizure we've seen in Australia."
The hefty haul of cocaine, which authorities estimate could be worth around $31 million, was allegedly discovered inside locked suitcases in two vessel cabins.
In the days before their arrests, the girls lazed on beaches drinking coconuts and even got tattoos in Tahiti while indulging in the $20,000 cruise.
Roberge posted a photo of her new tattoo to Instagram, telling her followers the two weaving lines around her ankle meant: "protection of the traveller".
One week later, the jewellery store assistant found herself in custody in a foreign country.
Tamine, Lagace and Roberge did not apply for bail at the Central Local Court on Monday and it was formally refused.
The trio were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug after police and sniffer dogs searched the vessel when it berthed in Sydney.
They will remain in custody until their next court appearance on October 26.