British actress Emaa Hussen has been charged by Australian authorities over her alleged involvement in a major international drug trafficking operation that investigators say attempted to smuggle approximately 320 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia from Ghana.
Hussen, 34, who is known for her role as Naz in the EastEnders spin-off E20 and for appearing in the 2013 film Redemption alongside Jason Statham, appeared before a Sydney court after being arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Authorities allege the seized drugs had an estimated street value of A$296 million, making it one of the most significant methamphetamine seizures reported this year.
According to investigators, the drugs were concealed inside bags of charcoal packed into shipping containers that arrived at Port Botany in Sydney from Ghana. Australian Border Force officers reportedly detected suspicious anomalies during X-ray examinations of the containers and discovered a crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
Authorities say the methamphetamine was removed from the containers before the shipment was allowed to continue as part of a controlled operation. Police allege that Hussen later attended a storage facility in western Sydney and supervised the unloading and handling of the shipment. She was subsequently arrested at a residence in Blacktown, where investigators seized electronic devices, documents, and other materials believed to be relevant to the case.
The investigation has also led to charges against an Australian man and woman from Adelaide. Prosecutors allege the pair used false identities to rent storage facilities connected to the shipment and played a role in facilitating the operation. Both are expected to face court proceedings in the coming months.
Australian authorities say the seizure prevented an estimated 3.2 million street-level methamphetamine deals from reaching communities across the country. Officials praised the cooperation between border security agencies and federal investigators, noting that criminal syndicates are increasingly using sophisticated concealment methods to disguise illicit drugs within legitimate cargo.
Hussen has not entered a plea, and her legal team has not publicly commented in detail on the allegations. The actress remains in custody after being refused bail and is expected to return to court later this year. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Australian law.
The case has attracted international attention due to Hussen’s acting background and the alleged connection between the shipment and Ghana. Authorities in Australia continue to investigate the wider network believed to be behind the operation, with further arrests not being ruled out.
The allegations remain before the courts, and Hussen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
