A former EastEnders actress has been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia. Emaa Hussen, best known for playing Naz Mehmet in the EastEnders spin-off E20, was arrested as part of a £160 million drugs bust in Sydney. The 34-year-old also appeared in the Jason Statham film Redemption in 2013.
Court Appearance and Charges
Hussen appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday and is now facing a maximum penalty of life in prison. Police allege she tried to import meth hidden in bags of charcoal in shipping containers from Ghana. These drugs had an estimated street value of A$296 million (US$208 million; £157 million). A couple from South Australia have also been charged in connection with the case.
Investigation Details
Border Force officers were tipped off to the shipment, which was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween. They allegedly discovered a “white crystallised substance” in the bags, which tested positive for methamphetamine. Local police said: “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 and demonstrates the AFP’s ability to operate seamlessly across borders. 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.”
Arrest and Further Proceedings
Hussen and the couple are accused of unpacking the drugs before driving to a property in Blacktown, where she was arrested. Investigators claimed they found 32 bags identical to those in which the drugs were discovered, at the residence. Hussen will remain in jail until her next court appearance in August.
