Kathrine Frich
Now, her reality looks far less glamorous.
Making it big in the entertainment industry usually involves glamorous movie premieres and red carpets.
But sometimes, people who once shared the screen with Hollywood stars find themselves caught up in a completely different kind of high-stakes drama.
A sudden downfall
A British actress is facing massive legal trouble after authorities accused her of participating in a staggering international narcotics ring. Emaa Hussen recently appeared in a Sydney courtroom to answer for the serious allegations.
The 34-year-old previously built a solid acting resume in the United Kingdom. She appeared in a 2010 spin-off of the popular television series EastEnders.
Three years later, she landed a role in an action thriller alongside Hollywood heavyweight Jason Statham. Now, her reality looks far less glamorous.
Australian authorities formally charged her with trying to smuggle 700 pounds of methamphetamine into the country, according to CBS News and the BBC. If convicted, she could face life in prison.
Hiding in plain sight
The alleged smuggling operation relied on everyday items to hide the illegal stash. The massive haul of narcotics was packed tightly inside standard bags of charcoal.
Those bags crossed the ocean inside shipping containers that departed from Ghana in West Africa. The shipment eventually arrived at a major port facility in Sydney.
Border Force Superintendent Jared Leighton said criminal networks constantly invent creative ways to mask shipments.
“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,” Leighton stated.
The enormous bust represents a brutal financial blow to the criminal underworld. Australian officials estimate the stash held a street value of roughly $208 million.
Catching the suspects
The police investigation officially kicked off in April. Border agents working at the port had noticed a strange white substance hidden inside the cargo.
Detectives tracked the shipment and eventually watched several men unpack the containers. They noted that Hussen allegedly helped load the goods into a waiting vehicle before driving away.
The group drove to a residential property. Once they arrived, heavily armed police moved in quickly to make their arrests. Australia’s 9News reported that officers discovered 32 bags of the illicit substance scattered around the house.
Acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson praised the interception. The seizure “has prevented a potential 3.2 million deals from reaching Australian streets,” Robinson said in a statement.
A judge quickly denied bail for the British actress. She will remain behind bars until her next scheduled court appearance in August. Meanwhile, two other individuals from South Africa were also taken into custody for allegedly renting storage spaces under fake names.
Sources: CBS News, BBC, 9News
