British actress Emaa Hussen has been charged in Australia over an alleged attempt to import 320kg of methamphetamine concealed in shipments of charcoal from Ghana, authorities said.
Get today's headlines by email 
Hussen, 34, appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday after being charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The actress is best known for playing Naz in the spin-off of the TV show E20, which debuted in 2010. She also appeared alongside Jason Statham in the 2013 action film Hummingbird.
Drugs Allegedly Hidden in Charcoal
Police allege Hussen was involved in a scheme to import methamphetamine hidden inside bags of charcoal shipped from Ghana to Australia.
The Australian Federal Police said the drugs, with an estimated street value of A$296 million (US$208 million), were discovered after border authorities detected irregularities in two shipping containers that arrived at Sydney's Port Botany in April.
An X-ray examination of the containers, which were declared as carrying charcoal, revealed a white crystalline substance. Subsequent testing confirmed it was methamphetamine.
Authorities removed the drugs before allowing the shipment to continue to a storage facility in the western Sydney suburb of Girraween.
Picture courtesy of Australian Federal Police/Australian Border Force
Arrests in Sydney and Adelaide
Investigators allege Hussen later attended the storage facility and oversaw the unloading of the container by several men.
According to police, a number of bags were loaded into a vehicle and transported to a property in Blacktown, where officers subsequently arrested Hussen. Electronic devices and a notebook were also seized during the operation.
As part of the wider investigation, police arrested a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in Adelaide. The pair have been charged with allegedly using false identities to rent the Sydney storage units where the shipment was delivered.
Authorities Highlight Scale of Seizure
Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson of the Australian Federal Police said the seizure had prevented a large quantity of drugs from entering the community.
He said the haul, valued at A$296 million, could have resulted in an estimated 3.2 million street-level drug deals.
Australian Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton said criminal groups frequently attempt to conceal illicit substances within legitimate cargo.
He said officers are trained to identify sophisticated concealment methods, including drugs hidden in everyday products such as charcoal.
Hussen was previously denied bail and is scheduled to return to court in August.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 19 June 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment