An international drug trafficking operation linked to Ghana has led to the arrest and charging of three individuals in Australia, including British actress Emaa Hussen, following the seizure of 320 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at an estimated A$296 million.
Australian authorities say the massive drug consignment was intercepted after it arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany disguised as bags of charcoal in a shipment from Ghana. The discovery was made in April 2026 when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers flagged irregularities during routine screening and uncovered a white crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation and removed the drugs before allowing the shipment to continue under a controlled operation. The consignment was then transported to a storage facility in Girraween, where investigators allege 34-year-old Emaa Hussen played a supervisory role in unpacking the container alongside other suspects.
Authorities claim several bags were subsequently moved to a residence in Blacktown, where AFP officers later executed a search warrant and arrested Hussen. Officers reportedly recovered dozens of bags used to conceal the drugs, along with electronic devices and documents now undergoing forensic analysis.
Hussen, who has appeared in an EastEnders spin-off and a film featuring Jason Statham, has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. She was previously denied bail and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
The investigation extended to South Australia, where a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man were arrested in Oakden. The pair are accused of attempting to rent storage units in Sydney using false identities to support the drug operation. They have been charged with dealing in identification information to facilitate the possession of a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, as well as failing to comply with a court order.
Both suspects appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court and were remanded in custody. They are scheduled to reappear in court in September 2026.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson said the operation highlights the scale and sophistication of international drug syndicates and the importance of cross-border collaboration.
“The seizure of these drugs has prevented an estimated 3.2 million street deals and demonstrates our commitment to disrupting organised crime networks,” he said.
ABF Superintendent Jared Leighton added that criminal groups continue to use increasingly elaborate methods to conceal illicit substances, but authorities remain vigilant.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to identify other individuals involved in the smuggling network, including suppliers and key facilitators linked to the Ghana-origin shipment.
