Actress Charged in Significant Drug Smuggling Operation
A British actress, Emaa Hussen, 34, has been formally charged in Australia for her alleged involvement in an operation to import a substantial quantity of methamphetamine. The drugs, weighing approximately 320kg, are estimated to have a street value of A$296 million (US$208 million; £157 million).
Court Appearance and Allegations
Ms. Hussen appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday, facing charges of attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Bail was denied in an earlier hearing, and she is scheduled to return to court in August.
Authorities allege that Ms. Hussen, alongside a couple from South Australia, orchestrated the importation of methamphetamine concealed within bags of charcoal. The illicit cargo was reportedly shipped in containers from Ghana.
Investigation Details
The Australian investigation commenced in April when border authorities at Sydney's Port Botany detected irregularities in two shipping containers arriving from Ghana. The containers were declared to hold bags of charcoal; however, X-ray examinations revealed anomalies. Subsequent testing confirmed the presence of a 'white crystalized substance' to be methamphetamine.
Police removed the drugs from the shipment before it was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween, a western suburb of Sydney. It is alleged that Ms. Hussen visited this facility and oversaw the unpacking of the container by several men. Bags were then reportedly loaded into a vehicle and transported to a house in Blacktown, where police later apprehended Ms. Hussen. Electronic devices and a notebook were also confiscated during the arrest.
As part of the ongoing inquiry, a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man were arrested and charged in Adelaide, South Australia. They are accused of using false identities to rent the Sydney storage units where the drugs were delivered.
Det Acting Supt Trevor Robinson of the Australian Federal Police 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 Supt Jared Leighton commended his officers, 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."
Actress's Background
Emaa Hussen previously appeared as the character Naz in the 2010 Eastenders spin-off, E20. She also had a role in the 2013 action thriller Hummingbird (released as Redemption in the US), starring Jason Statham.
Source: UK actress charged with importing meth worth almost A$300m into Australia