A British actress has been charged after allegedly attempting to smuggle £157million ($296million) worth of meth from West Africa into Australia with an Adelaide couple.

Emaa Hussen, who starred in the EastEnders spin-off EastEnders: E20 and appeared alongside Jason Statham in the Hollywood film Redemption, was arrested in a drugs bust in Sydney.

The 34-year-old appeared in court on Thursday and faces life behind bars if convicted.

Hussen is best known for playing Naz Mehmet in the 2010 series, a teenager torn between her strict traditional family and her desire to enjoy her youth. 

Australian Federal Police allegedly discovered anomalies in two shipping containers that had been sent from Ghana and arrived at Port Botany in April.

An X-ray of the container allegedly found 320kg of methamphetamine, instead of bags of charcoal, prompting police to launch an urgent probe.

The alleged drugs were removed from the bags and cops followed the shipping container to a facility in Girraween. 

Hussen allegedly unpacked the drugs with several suspects before driving to a property in Blacktown – before cops swooped in and arrested her.

Investigators said they found 32 bags at the home, which they allege were the same used to hide the illicit substances.

Officers seized electronic devices and a notebook.

Hussen was charged on Thursday and accused of trying to import 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia.

The Adelaide couple, aged 30 and 32, were charged in April over their alleged connection to the smuggling.

They are both due in court in September. 

Meanwhile, Hussen will remain in jail until her next court appearance in August. 

AFP detective acting superintendent Trevor Robinson said the seizure of the alleged drugs prevented a potential 3.2million deals. 

Local police said: '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 and demonstrates the AFP's ability to operate seamlessly across borders.'

They added: '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.'

Hussen's legal team did not submit any pleas or a bail application on her behalf when she faced court on Thursday.