Canadian drug mule sentenced in Australia for cocaine cruise

CANBERRA, Australia – An Australian court has sentenced a Canadian woman to eight years in prison for her part in an attempt to smuggle cocaine worth $16 million into Sydney in luggage aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Melina Roberge broke down in tears Wednesday when the Sydney court handed down the sentence, which includes a non-parole period of 4 years and 9 months in prison.

Three Canadians have pleaded guilty to smuggling 95 kilograms (209 pounds) of cocaine in their suitcases during a seven-week cruise in 2016 from Britain to Australia.

One of Roberge's accomplices, Isabelle Lagace, with whom she shared a cabin, was sentenced in November to 7 1/2 years in prison.

The third accomplice, Andre Tamin, will be sentenced in October.