By Blessing Nweke

A British actress who appeared in the EastEnders spin-off E20 and a Hollywood action film starring Jason Statham has been charged in Australia over an alleged attempt to smuggle more than 300 kilograms of methamphetamine into the country.

Emaa Hussen, 34, appeared before a Sydney court on Thursday after being charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under Australian law.

Authorities allege Hussen was involved in a scheme to import 320kg of meth hidden inside bags of charcoal shipped from Ghana. The drugs were discovered in two shipping containers that arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany and are estimated to have had a street value of AU$296 million (US$208 million).

The investigation began in April when border officials detected irregularities during inspections of the containers. X-ray examinations revealed a white crystalline substance concealed among charcoal bags, and subsequent testing confirmed it was methamphetamine.

Police said the drugs were removed before the shipment was allowed to continue to a storage facility in Girraween, a suburb in western Sydney. Investigators allege Hussen later attended the site and supervised the unloading of the container. Several bags were then reportedly loaded into a vehicle and transported to a house in Blacktown, where Hussen was arrested.

Officers also seized electronic devices and a notebook during the operation.

Two additional suspects, a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man from Adelaide, have been charged with allegedly using false identities to rent storage units connected to the shipment.

Australian Federal Police said the seizure prevented an estimated 3.2 million street-level drug deals, while border officials praised officers for uncovering drugs concealed within everyday commercial goods. Hussen was denied bail and is due to return to court in August.