British actress Emaa Hussen has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The 34‑year‑old, known for her role in the *Eastenders* spin‑off *E20* and the action film *Hummingbird*, appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday to face the charges.
Police allege that Hussen, together with a pair of men from South Australia, tried to import the drug hidden in bags of charcoal shipped in two containers from Ghana. The meth, with a street value estimated at A$296 million (US$208 million), was discovered at Port Botany after border officers detected anomalies in the cargo. X‑ray and chemical testing confirmed the white, crystalised substance was indeed methamphetamine.
The drugs were seized before delivery to a storage facility in Girraween, a western suburb of Sydney. Hussen allegedly watched as men unpacked the containers, secured the meth and loaded it into cars that drove to a house in Blacktown where police later arrested her. In the process, officers seized electronic devices and a notebook believed to contain evidence of the operation.
Along with Hussen, the AFP arrested a 30‑year‑old woman and a 32‑year‑old man in Adelaide who had used false identities to rent the storage units where the drugs were kept. The arrest and charging of these individuals reinforce the international reach of the criminal syndicate.
The AFP’s Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson highlighted that the seizure of the meth "has prevented a potential 3.2 million deals" from reaching Australian streets. Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton praised officers for their skill in detecting concealed drugs hidden in everyday goods such as charcoal.
Hussen was refused bail in an earlier hearing and will return to court in August to face the charges. The maximum penalty for the alleged offenses is life in prison.
