Former ‘EastEnders’ Star Charged With Smuggling £157 Million Worth of Meth Into Australia

A former actress known for her role in an ‘EastEnders’ spin-off and a Jason Statham film has been charged in Australia for allegedly attempting to import a massive shipment of methamphetamine into the country.

Emaa Hussen, 34, appeared in a Sydney court after being charged with trying to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. If found guilty, she could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The case revolves around a shipment that arrived in Australia from Ghana, West Africa. Authorities claim that Hussen collaborated with a man and woman from South Australia in a scheme to smuggle methamphetamine concealed within bags of charcoal.

The shipment reportedly contained approximately 320 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at around A$296 million, which translates to about £157 million or US$208 million.

The investigation commenced in April when officers from the Australian Border Force noticed suspicious details in two shipping containers that arrived at Port Botany in Sydney. Although the containers were declared as carrying charcoal, scans revealed unusual contents.

Upon inspection, officers discovered a white crystal-like substance hidden among the charcoal bags. Subsequent tests confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine.

Investigators stated that the drugs were secretly extracted from the shipment before it was allowed to proceed to a storage facility in Sydney’s western suburbs. Police monitored the delivery as part of their operation.

Authorities allege that Hussen later visited the storage facility in Girraween, overseeing the unloading of the container. Several bags were allegedly loaded into a vehicle and transported to a property in Blacktown.

Hussen was arrested at that location, where officers seized electronic devices and a notebook believed to be linked to the investigation.

The investigation expanded with the arrest of a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in Adelaide, who allegedly used false identities to rent the storage facilities where the shipment was delivered.

Hussen has been denied bail and is scheduled to return to court in August as the case progresses.

Before her arrest, Hussen had a minor acting career, portraying the character Naz in ‘E20’, a spin-off of the popular British soap opera ‘EastEnders’, which debuted in 2010. She also appeared in the 2013 Jason Statham action thriller ‘Hummingbird’, released in the U.S. as ‘Redemption’.

Australian Federal Police emphasized the significance of the seizure. Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson 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 commended the officers involved in the operation, noting, “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 is ongoing as authorities continue to probe the alleged drug importation network.

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