Former ‘EastEnders’ Star Accused of Smuggling £157 Million Worth of Meth Into Australia
A former actress known for appearing in an EastEnders spin-off series and a Jason Statham movie has been charged in Australia over an alleged attempt to import a huge shipment of methamphetamine into the country.
According to Australian authorities, 34-year-old Emaa Hussen appeared in a Sydney court after being charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The case centers around a shipment that arrived in Australia from Ghana, West Africa. Police allege that Hussen worked alongside a man and woman from South Australia in a plan to bring methamphetamine into the country while hiding it inside bags of charcoal.
Authorities say the shipment contained around 320 kilograms of methamphetamine. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of A$296 million, which is around £157 million or US$208 million.
The investigation began in April after officers from the Australian Border Force noticed suspicious details in two shipping containers that arrived at Port Botany in Sydney. The containers were declared as carrying charcoal, but scans reportedly revealed unusual contents.
After examining the shipment, officers found what police described as a white crystal-like substance hidden among the charcoal bags. Tests later confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine.
According to investigators, the drugs were secretly removed from the shipment before it was allowed to continue its journey to a storage facility in Sydney’s western suburbs. Police then monitored the delivery as part of their operation.
Authorities allege that Hussen later visited the storage facility in Girraween and oversaw the unloading of the container. Several bags were allegedly placed into a vehicle before being transported to a property in Blacktown.
Police arrested Hussen at that location. During the arrest, officers reportedly seized electronic devices and a notebook that they believe may be connected to the investigation.
The case did not stop there. Investigators also arrested a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in Adelaide. Police allege the pair used false identities to rent the storage facilities where the shipment was delivered.
Hussen has already been denied bail and is expected to return to court in August as the case continues.
Before her arrest, Hussen had a small acting career. She played the character Naz in E20, a spin-off of the popular British soap opera EastEnders, which first aired in 2010. She also appeared in the 2013 Jason Statham action thriller Hummingbird, which was released in the United States under the title Redemption.
Australian Federal Police highlighted the scale of the seizure. Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson said, “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.”
Australian Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton also praised the officers involved in the operation. He said, “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.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine the alleged drug importation network.
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