Three accused of trying to smuggle 95kg of cocaine into Sydney on Sea Princess

THREE Canadians are behind bars in Sydney after being charged with smuggling 95kg of cocaine into the country aboard a cruise ship, in a record haul.

Three Canadians are behind bars in Sydney after being charged with smuggling 95kg of cocaine into the country aboard a cruise ship, in what authorities say is a record haul.

The trio arrived in Sydney aboard the Sea Princess on Sunday, after starting their journey in Southampton, England, with the cruise liner stopping at several South American countries along the way.

Australian Border Force regional commander Tim Fitzgerald said it was the country’s biggest ever cruise ship narcotics seizure, with an estimated value of $30m.

Andre Tamine, 63, Isabelle Lagace, 28, and Melina Roberce, 22, did not apply for bail at Sydney’s Central Local Court on Monday and it was formally refused.

Approximately 95 kilograms of cocaine has been seized from the cruise ship Sea in Sydney. Picture: Jonathan Ng

One of the four bags of cocaine pictured at the Australian Federal Police building, Sydney: Jonathan Ng

Authorities believe they have disrupted a major international crime gang attempting to flood Australian streets with illicit drugs.

“I can’t go into the specifics about the background of this particular syndicate, but you’ve got to be a very well-organised syndicate to get your hands on 95kg of cocaine and attempt to import it here into Sydney,” Commander Fitzgerald said.

“This particular cruise ship had a number of other ports it was going to visit while in Australia, but certainly the suggestion is that all 95kg of that cocaine was destined for the streets of Australia.”

The hefty haul of cocaine was allegedly discovered inside locked suitcases in two vessel cabins.

The trio was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug after police and sniffer dogs searched the vessel when it berthed in Sydney.

Cruise ship Sea Princess in New Zealand.

They face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and will remain in custody until their next court appearance on October 26.

The joint operation by the AFP and Australian Border Force received co-operation from the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations, New Zealand Customs Service and the Canada Border Services Agency.