I had made a QUB radio interview with Mélina Robergewhich told, in the book Without filterhis arrest in Australia for importing cocaine.
I did yesterday at QUB, an interview with Isabelle Lagacéwho tells in the documentary Cocaine, prison and likes: the true story of Isabellehis arrest for importing cocaine.
We can now say that the two main stars of this worthy Hollywood story have told both sides of their story.
But we are far from knowing “the real story” of what happened on this cruise ship in 2016.
CRUISING IS NOT FUN
In the documentary airing today on Crave, we learn a lot about Isabelle’s love affair with a man who was released from prison for his involvement with the Hells. We learn a lot about his depression, his debts, his toxic relationship, his party lifestyle in bars. We also learn a lot about the beauty of the landscapes in French Polynesia or Colombia, countries that Isabelle visited during her famous cruise.
But we don’t learn much about the underside of this criminal story.
Neither Mélina in her book nor Isabelle in the documentary gives us the slightest clue as to the identity of the other men who were on the Sea Princess with them. Isabelle mentions “a cartel”, but without identifying it. Why did André Tamine, who was also arrested in Australia in July 2016, with twice the amount of cocaine of Isabelle and Mélina, have such a lenient sentence?
We understand that they do not want to risk their lives. But if you sell me your salad by telling me that you are “setting the record straight” and that you are telling “the real story”, don’t just tell me the bits of the story that suit you.
I asked Isabelle what she was afraid of. “The other people involved, I have decided not to mention. I don’t know what they are capable of. I can’t say 100% that anything would happen to me, but do I want to take that risk? “.
Crave’s documentary dwells at length on the work of the media, which claimed (erroneously) that Mélina and Isabelle were porn stars. This “fake news” seems to bother Isabelle Lagacé a lot, who is very critical of the “lack of rigor” of journalists who have not verified their information.
I admit I felt a bit uncomfortable hearing someone who knowingly carried hard drugs giving moral lessons to reporters.
What touched me on the other hand in the story of Isabelle Lagacé, is when she tells how difficult it was for her to begin her reintegration. Contrary to what many people think, she does not have a criminal record in Canada (as she was convicted in Australia, she has a criminal record there).
She has, like all citizens who have served their sentence, the right to a second chance.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Isabelle Lagacé confirmed to me that she had been paid for her participation in the documentary, “An amount that will allow me to get back on my feet” and to “raise my credit rating”, she told me. Mélina Roberge has her copyrights.
Who said “crime doesn’t pay”?