UK Actress Charged With Importing 320 kg of Meth into Australia

Fri Jun 19 2026 17:04:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

British actress Emaa Hussen faces life imprisonment after attempting to smuggle $296m worth of meth from Ghana to Sydney.

Emaa Hussen, a former Eastenders and Jason Statham film actress, was charged in Sydney for trying to import 320 kg of methamphetamine from Ghana. The drugs, hidden in bags of charcoal, were worth an estimated A$296 million. Police detected the shipment at Port Botany and seized the meth before it could reach a storage facility in Girraween. Hussen was denied bail and will return to court in August for trial.

Background

British actress Emaa Hussen, best known for her role as Naz in the Eastenders spin‑off E20 and for appearing in the Jason Statham film Hummingbird, has been charged in a Sydney court with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia.

Allegations

Police claim that Hussen, alongside two men from South Australia, tried to smuggle 320 kg of meth hidden in bags of charcoal that were shipped in containers from Ghana to Port Botany. The drugs were detected when an X‑ray scan revealed a white, crystallised substance, which lab tests later confirmed to be methamphetamine.

Estimated Value

The seized meth is estimated to have a street value of A$296 million, equivalent to US$208 million or £157 million. Officials say the seizure prevented a possible 3.2 m drug deals from reaching Australian streets.

Legal Proceedings

Hussen was refused bail in a prior court decision and will be due back in an August hearing. With a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the case has drawn significant attention.

Investigative Details

Australian border authorities identified anomalies in two shipping containers that were inspected at Port Botany after arriving from Ghana in April. The containers had been listed as bags of charcoal but, when opened, contained numerous bags of meth placed in a storage unit in Girraween. Police seized the drugs before they could be delivered to the unit.

Supporting Arrests

In addition to Hussen, authorities arranged the arrest and charges of a 30‑year‑old woman and a 32‑year‑old man in Adelaide. They allegedly used false identities to rent the storage units that held the drugs in Sydney.

Police Statements

"The seizure of these drugs—valued at $296 million—has prevented a potential 3.2 million deals from reaching Australian streets," said Det Acting Supt Trevor Robinson of the Australian Federal Police.

"Criminal syndicates will go to great lengths to disguise illicit drugs, including embedding them in everyday goods like charcoal, but our highly skilled officers are trained to see beyond these attempts," added Australian Border Forces Supt Jared Leighton.