A British actress who appeared in an EastEnders spin-off and a Jason Statham movie has been charged with attempting to smuggle 320 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia from West Africa. Emaa Hussen, 34, faced a Sydney court on Thursday after being charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. The maximum penalty for this offense is life imprisonment.
Details of the Alleged Smuggling Operation
Police allege that Hussen, along with a couple from South Australia, attempted to import the drugs concealed in bags of charcoal within shipping containers from Ghana. The methamphetamine had an estimated street value of A$296 million (US$208 million; £157 million). Hussen was denied bail in an earlier court hearing and is scheduled to return to court in August.
Hussen's Acting Career
Hussen played the character Naz in the EastEnders spin-off series E20, which first aired in 2010. She also appeared in Jason Statham's 2013 action thriller Hummingbird, released in the US as Redemption.
Investigation and Arrest
Australian police launched an investigation in April after border authorities detected anomalies in two shipping containers that arrived at Sydney's Port Botany from Ghana. Authorities discovered a white crystallized substance after X-raying the containers, which were listed as containing bags of charcoal. Further testing confirmed the substance was methamphetamine.
Police removed the drugs from the shipment before it was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween, in Sydney's western suburbs. Police allege that Hussen went to the facility and supervised as several men unpacked the container. They loaded several bags into a car before driving to a house in Blacktown, where police later arrested Hussen. Electronic devices and a notebook were also seized.
Additional Arrests
As part of the investigation, police also arrested and charged a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. They are accused of using false identities to rent the storage units in Sydney where the drugs were delivered.
Police Statements
Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson from the Australian Federal Police stated: "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 praised his officers for their efforts, saying: "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."
