Australian authorities have charged three individuals following the interception of approximately 320 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in a shipment from Ghana, in a major drug bust estimated to have prevented illicit drugs worth A$296 million (about US$208 million) from reaching the streets.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation in April 2026 after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers detected irregularities in two shipping containers that arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany from Ghana.
The shipment, declared as bags of charcoal, underwent x-ray screening, during which officers discovered a white crystallised substance. Preliminary tests indicated the substance was methamphetamine, with subsequent forensic analysis confirming the presence of about 320 kilograms of the illicit drug.
Authorities removed the drugs before allowing the shipment to continue to a storage facility in Girraween as part of a controlled law enforcement operation.
A 34-year-old British actress, identified as Emaa Hussen, has been charged in connection with the failed importation. Hussen, who reportedly appeared in an EastEnders spin-off and a film starring Jason Statham, appeared before a Sydney court on Thursday.
She has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Hussen was previously refused bail after being charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
Investigators allege that Hussen attended the storage facility and supervised the unloading of the shipment. Several bags were later transported to a residence in Blacktown, where AFP officers executed a search warrant and arrested her.
Police said they recovered 32 bags allegedly used to conceal the drugs, along with electronic devices and a notebook, all of which are undergoing forensic examination.
The investigation later extended to South Australia, where authorities arrested a 30-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in Oakden. The pair allegedly attempted to rent storage units in Sydney using false identities to facilitate the operation.
Both suspects have been charged with dealing in identification information to facilitate the possession of a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, among other offences. They remain in custody and are expected to reappear before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on September 2, 2026.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson said investigations are continuing to identify the suppliers and organisers behind the attempted importation.
“This operation highlights the agility of the AFP and our partners to investigate complex matters across jurisdictions and stop organised crime syndicates in their tracks,” Robinson said.
Australian Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton reiterated the agency’s commitment to combating transnational drug trafficking.
“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,” he said.
