A former BBC actress has been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia as part of a £160million drugs operation uncovered in Sydney.
Actress's Background
Emaa Hussen is best known for her role in EastEnders spin-off E20, in which she portrayed Naz Mehmet, and also appeared alongside Jason Statham in the 2013 film Redemption. The 34-year-old allegedly concealed the drugs inside bags of charcoal shipped from Ghana in West Africa, which were intercepted by officers at Port Botany.
Legal Consequences
She now faces the prospect of a life sentence, along with two Adelaide residents who were charged with similar offences in April 2026. Border Force officers had received a tip-off regarding the shipment, which was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween. Upon inspection, they allegedly uncovered a 'white crystallised substance' within the bags, which subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine.
Arrest and Investigation
Hussen is accused of unloading the drugs alongside other suspects before travelling to a property in Blacktown, where she was subsequently arrested. Investigators claim they recovered 32 bags identical to those in which the narcotics were found at the address. She will remain in custody until her next court appearance in August, reports the Mirror.
Police Statement
Local police stated: 'The seizure of these drugs - with an estimated street value of $296million - has prevented a potential 3.2million 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.'
