In brief
Emaa Hussen, a 34‑year‑old UK actress known for her role in Eastenders and the Jason Statham film "Hummingbird", has been charged with attempting to smuggle 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia from West Africa. Police allege she supervised the placement of the drugs in shipping containers disguised as charcoal, part of a larger criminal network that used false identities to rent storage units in Sydney. The seized quantity, valued at around A$296 million, could have facilitated 3.2 million illicit sales in Australia. Hussen was denied bail and will return to court in August, where prosecutors may seek a life sentence.
Emaa Hussen, UK actress, charged with attempting to smuggle 320 kg of meth into Australia
In a shock move that has drawn international attention, the 34‑year‑old actress, best known for her role in the Eastenders spin‑off *E20*, has been charged in Sydney with importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine from Ghana. The drugs were concealed inside bags of charcoal in two shipping containers that arrived at Port Botany.
Police say that Hussen, along with two men from South Australia, supervised the un‑packing of the containers at a storage facility in Girraween. They then loaded several bags into a vehicle and drove to a house in Blacktown, where the actress was arrested. She was denied bail following the first court appearance and will be scheduled to return in August.
Officials estimate the seized drugs to be worth A$296 million (about US$208 million or £157 million) on the street, enough to fund roughly 3.2 million illegal sales in Australia. Acting Australian Federal Police (AFP) Superintendent Trevor Robinson said the operation prevented a significant wave of crime.
Additionally, authorities detained a 30‑year‑old woman and a 32‑year‑old man in Adelaide who allegedly used false identities to rent the storage units used to house the shipment. The investigation revealed that the drugs were hidden in “white crystallised substance” that had passed X‑ray screening, which then triggered forensic testing and identification as meth.
The case highlights the challenges of tightening drug‑trade controls while underscoring the adaptability of criminal syndicates. Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton praised the officers for identifying the illicit cargo despite the smugglers’ attempt to disguise it as ordinary freight.
