British actor charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into Australia
What's the story
A British actor, Emaa Hussen (34), has been charged with attempting to smuggle 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia from West Africa. The drugs were reportedly hidden in bags of charcoal in shipping containers from Ghana. Hussen is known for her role as Naz in the EastEnders spin-off E20 and her appearance in Jason Statham's action thriller, Hummingbird (2013).
Details
Maximum penalty for the offense is life imprisonment
Hussen, along with a couple from South Australia, allegedly attempted to import the methamphetamine into Australia. The drugs had an estimated street value of A$296 million (US$208 million; £157 million). The maximum penalty for this offense is life imprisonment, according to the BBC. Hussen was denied bail in a previous court ruling and is scheduled to return to court in August.
Investigation
Australian police began investigation in April
Australian police initiated an investigation in April after border authorities noticed irregularities in two shipping containers that arrived at Sydney's Port Botany from Ghana. The contents of the containers, which were declared as bags of charcoal, were X-rayed and a "white crystallized substance" was discovered. Subsequent testing confirmed it was methamphetamine. The drugs were removed from the shipment before being sent to a storage facility in Girraween, Sydney's western suburbs.
Arrest
Hussen was seen unloading bags from a car
Hussen reportedly visited the storage facility and oversaw the unloading of several bags from the container. These bags were loaded into a car and taken to a house in Blacktown, where Hussen was arrested by police. The authorities also seized electronic devices and a notebook during the arrest.
Additional arrests
Two other people were arrested in connection with the case
As part of the investigation, a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man were also arrested and charged in Adelaide, South Australia. They allegedly used false identities to rent the storage units in Sydney where the drugs were delivered. "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," Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson from the Australian Federal Police said.