A British actress has been charged with attempting to import 320 kg of methamphetamine into Australia from West Africa. Police allege the drugs were concealed in bags of charcoal in two shipping containers that arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany from Ghana.
Emaa Hussen, 34, who appeared as Naz in the EastEnds spin‑off "E20" and in Jason Statham’s 2013 action thriller "Hummingbird" (US title "Redemption"), was arrested in a Blacktown house where she was said to have supervised the unpacking of the containers. She now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and is due back in court in August.
The containers originally had a declared cargo of charcoal, but X‑ray scans revealed a white crystallised substance. Follow‑up testing confirmed it was meth. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of A$296 million (US$208 million).
The investigation began after border authorities detected anomalies in the shipping containers. Police removed the meth before it could be delivered to a storage facility in Girraween, a western suburb of Sydney.
Along with Hussen, police have arrested and charged a woman aged 30 and a man aged 32 in Adelaide for using false identities to rent the storage units where the drugs were stored.
«The seizure of these drugs – with an estimated street value of $296 million – has prevented a potential 3.2 million deals from reaching Australian streets,» said Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson of the Australian Federal Police.
Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton praised his officers for spotting the hidden narcotics: «Criminal syndicates will go to great lengths to disguise illicit drugs, but our highly skilled officers are trained to see beyond these attempts.»
If convicted, Hussen faces a life sentence. The case underscores the growing threat of transnational drug smuggling and the importance of vigilant border security.
