A British actress known for roles in an EastEnders spin-off and a film starring Jason Statham has become embroiled in one of Australia’s most significant drug investigations in recent years, with prosecutors alleging she was involved in a major methamphetamine trafficking operation.
Emaa Hussen, 34, has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia. If found guilty, she could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under Australian law.
The investigation began in April when two shipping containers arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany from Ghana. Customs documents reportedly listed the cargo as charcoal, a declaration that initially appeared routine.
However, Australian border authorities became suspicious after X-ray examinations revealed irregularities within the shipment. A detailed inspection allegedly uncovered a white crystalline substance concealed inside bags of charcoal. Laboratory testing later identified the substance as methamphetamine.
According to investigators, the shipment contained approximately 320 kilograms of the illicit drug. Authorities estimate the haul had a potential street value of around A$296 million, making it one of the larger meth seizures recorded in the country.
Rather than immediately confiscating the shipment, law enforcement officers reportedly carried out a controlled operation. After removing the suspected drugs, they allowed the containers to continue to a storage facility in Girraween, located in Sydney’s western suburbs, while investigators monitored the delivery.
Police allege that Hussen later arrived at the facility and oversaw the unloading of the containers. Authorities claim she directed several men involved in handling the cargo. During the operation, a number of bags were allegedly transferred into a vehicle and taken to a residence in Blacktown.
Shortly afterward, officers arrested Hussen. Investigators also seized electronic devices and a notebook that may form part of the ongoing inquiry.
Hussen appeared before a Sydney court this week. Bail had previously been denied, and she is scheduled to return to court in August as legal proceedings continue.
Before her arrest, Hussen was best known to audiences in the United Kingdom for portraying Naz in EastEnders: E20, the online spin-off of the long-running BBC soap opera launched in 2010. She also appeared in the 2013 action drama Hummingbird, which starred Jason Statham and was released in some markets under the title Redemption.
Australian Federal Police Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson praised the work of investigators involved in the case, noting the scale of the seizure and its potential impact on the illegal drug market.
He stated that the operation had prevented drugs worth an estimated A$296 million from reaching communities across Australia, potentially stopping millions of individual street-level transactions.
Australian Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton also commended the efforts of border officials, highlighting the sophisticated methods criminal organizations use to conceal illegal substances.
Leighton said that trafficking groups frequently attempt to disguise drugs within ordinary commercial goods, but emphasized that experienced border officers are trained to detect such concealment techniques and identify suspicious shipments before they enter the community.
The case remains before the courts, and no findings have yet been made regarding the allegations.
