A Quebec woman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for her role in a drug importing operation that saw her travel the world on a luxury cruise.
Melina Roberge, 24, was arrested in 2016 after Australian authorities found 95 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated value of $30.5 million, in the suitcases belonging to her and two companions.
She pleaded guilty to importing the drug in February on the eve of her trial.
Roberge will have to serve at least four years and nine months of her sentence. With time served the Quebecer will be eligible for parole in May 2021.
During sentencing Roberge NSW District Court judge Kate Traill accepted Roberge's story of being led astray by a much older man and had accepted to go on the trip for money, but still attacked one of her other motivations.
"It is a very sad indictment on her relative age group in society to seem to get self-worth relative to posts on Instagram," Judge Traill said. "She wanted to be the envy of others. I doubt she is now."
Roberge and one of her travel companions, Isabelle Lagace, posted glamorous photos of themselves wearing bikinis and enjoying cocktails on various social media platforms during their travels.
Lagace was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for her role in the operation.
A third member, 64-year-old Andre Tamine will be sentenced in the fall.