A former BBC actress has been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 320 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia as part of a £160 million drugs bust in Sydney. Emaa Hussen, best known for her role as Naz Mehmet in the EastEnders spin-off E20, also appeared in the 2013 Jason Statham film Redemption. The 34-year-old allegedly concealed the drugs in bags of charcoal shipped from Ghana in West Africa, which were discovered by police at Port Botany. She now faces life in prison, alongside two Adelaide residents charged with similar offences in April 2026.
Investigation and Arrest
Border Force officers were tipped off about 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. Hussen is accused of unpacking the drugs with other suspects before driving to a property in Blacktown, where she was arrested. Investigators claimed they found 32 bags identical to those containing the drugs at the residence. Hussen will remain in jail until her next court appearance in August.
Police Statement
Local 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 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.”
