In brief
Emaa Hussen, a UK actress known for her roles in Eastenders and a Jason Statham film, stood in a Sydney courtroom after police alleged she helped ship 320 kg of meth from Ghana to Australia. The drugs, hidden in charcoal bags, were worth an estimated A$296m (US$208m). The case highlights how international drug syndicates use everyday goods to traffic dangerous substances and shows the reach of Australian border security. Hussen faces life‑long prison if convicted, and further charges are expected in August.
Emaa Hussen, 34, stood in a Sydney court after being charged with attempting to import 320 kg of methamphetamine into Australia. She is a British actress who appeared in the Eastenders spin‑off E20 and in Jason Statham’s 2013 action film Hummingbird.
Police allege Hussen, along with a couple from South Australia, tried to smuggle meth hidden in bags of charcoal in shipping containers from Ghana. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of A$296 million (US$208 m).
An anomaly spotted at Sydney’s Port Botany led investigators to X‑ray the containers. They found a “white crystallised substance” that tested as meth. The drugs were seized before delivery to a storage facility in Girraween, a western suburb of Sydney.
Key Facts at a Glance
- 320 kg of meth hidden in charcoal bags.
- Estimated street value A$296 million.
- Cells in Ghana to Australia via Port Botany.
- Hussen denied bail; next court hearing August.
Authorities say Hussen was present at a storage unit where the drugs were unloaded. Officers then moved the meth into a car and drove to a house in Blacktown, where Hussen was arrested. Officers also seized her electronic devices and a notebook.
In a related sweep, a 30‑year‑old woman and a 32‑year‑old man were charged in Adelaide for using fake identities to rent the storage units that housed the meth.
Impact on Australian Streets
“The seizure of these drugs – worth $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 substance despite smugglers’ attempts to disguise them as everyday goods.
If convicted, Hussen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The case illustrates the complex global network of drug traffickers that Australia is actively countering.
