Former Newcastle Knights player Jarrod Mullen will face court next month charged over his alleged involvement in a cocaine ring operating in Newcastle.
Mullen has been charged with allegedly supplying cocaine in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas between September and December 2018.
The 31-year-old was arrested on Wednesday morning and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he spent several hours in custody.
He was later charged with three counts of supplying cocaine and one count of supplying a trafficable quantity of a prohibited drug.
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Earlier this year 9News revealed the 31-year-old was at the centre of an investigation into a drug ring operating in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area.
Detectives attached to Strike Force Castlestead arrested Mullen on Wednesday morning, making him the eighth person to be charged in relation to the alleged drug syndicate.
"Strike Force Castlestead was formed in September 2018 to investigate and dismantle an alleged drug supply syndicate operating across the Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie Police Districts," NSW Police said in a statement.
Mullen is serving a four-year ban from rugby league after testing positive for steroids in 2017.
The troubled player was once the face of the Knights on a $1 million-per-year deal, and played one game at halfback for NSW in the State of Origin.
Mullen is expected to face Newcastle Local Court on June 20.