Canadian Isabelle Lagace pleads guilty to trying to smuggle 95kg of cocaine into Sydney on cruise ship

ISABELLE Lagace (pictured right) — the French Canadian woman who was part of a trio charged with one of Australia’s biggest cocaine busts — has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 95kg on the cruise ship Sea Princess into Sydney earlier this year. Her co-accused Melina Romberce (left) also faced court today.

A FRENCH Canadian woman — who is part of a trio charged with one of Australia’s biggest cocaine busts — has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 95kg on the cruise ship Sea Princess into Sydney.

Isabelle Lagace, 28, was arrested alongside Melina Romberce, 23, and Andre Tamine, 64, who were all nabbed by Australian Federal Police in August after the cruiseliner docked in Sydney Harbour.

Isabelle Lagace has pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of cocaine.

The cocaine allegedly found in two suitcases. Picture: Australian Boarder Force via AP

The cocaine haul carries a street value of more than $30 million and was allegedly found in four suitcases, one of which the Crown will allege was stored in a cabin shared by Lagace and Romberce on the 40-day journey.

The trio was charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Solicitor Louis Ialenti, acting for Lagace, entered the guilty plea at Central Local Court this afternoon.

Lagace sat stone-faced and dressed black pants and a maroon shirt, her brown hair flowing and an Maori tattoo visible on her left hand. Lagace has a sordid past as a porn star.

Co-accused, Romberce, dressed in white, sobbed in the dock and continually gestured to a supporter — an older blonde woman — who sat at the back of the court; and Tamine, who appeared only briefly, dressed in prison greens.

Tamine waived his right to a committal and will stand trial in Sydney District Court on February 3.

Melina Romberce posted this picture during her travels. Picture: Instagram

Romberce, a Quebec jewellery store worker, detailed her travels, before her arrest, on her Instagram account, including her trip on the luxury liner, which had travelled to various South American ports en route to Sydney.

Her social media account also showed her posting pictures of her travels to New York, Bermuda, Ecuador and Tahiti.

The maximum penalty for smuggling a commercial quantity of cocaine, a federal offence, is life imprisonment.

Lagace was committed for sentencing at the Sydney District Court on February 3, while a decision on whether Romberce will stand trial will be handed down at Central Local Court on December 21.