While sentencing a Canadian woman to eight years in prison for drug trafficking, Australian judge Catherine Traill took time to indict millennials for their obsession with social media.
Traill found Roberge’s motivation for the trip difficult to comprehend. “It is sad they seek to attain such a vacuous existence where how many likes they receive is their currency,” said Traill in sentencing Mélina Roberge, 24 for her role in smuggling 209 lbs. of cocaine from Montreal to Australia in 2016, according to CBC News.
While travelling to their destination on a cruise ship, Roberge and her confessed accomplice, Isabelle Lagacé, posted numerous pictures of their adventure on Instagram.
Their account has since been closed.
In her testimony to the court, Roberge said she viewed the experience as a great way to build her social media profile, something her judge called a “sad indictment” of younger people.
“She wanted to be the envy of others,” Traill said. “I doubt she is now the envy of others.”
Roberge admitted that the Instagram pics were also meant to disguise the smuggling operation as a glamor trip and that she was not aware of the huge quantity of cocaine that she was carrying.
Roberge admitted that her “sugar daddy” financed the vacation as a birthday present.
Australian authorities arrested Roberge, Lagacé and André Tamine. 65, upon their arrival in Australia. All three subsequently pleaded guilty. Lagacé received seven years, six months while Tamine as yet to be sentenced.