NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has revealed her brother has been charged with a string of drug offences after officers searched his car.
Ms Catley said her brother was charged after his vehicle was stopped in Newcastle, 170km northeast of Sydney, about 10.30pm on Friday.
A subsequent search revealed an amount of cash, 8.06g of methylamphetamine and cannabis which were seized for forensic examination.
The man was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug and three counts of possess prohibited drug.
He was granted conditional bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Curt on March 11.
Ms Catley said she received word of the charges from Police Commissioner Karen Webb in a statement released on Saturday morning.
The police minister said she had disclosed her brother’s drug issues with Ms Webb when she first stepped into the role.
‘When I first became Minister for Police I disclosed this information to Commissioner Webb so she was fully informed of these circumstances in case it should ever become a policing issue,’ she said.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley (pictured in January) has revealed her brother has been charged with a string of drug offences after his vehicle was searched by officers
‘This morning the Commissioner called me to advise that this had indeed occurred overnight when my brother was arrested in Newcastle following a vehicle search.’
‘He was charged with a number of offences. His case is now before the Courts and there is nothing more I can add.’
Ms Catley said a member of her family has struggled with drug addiction for years and that she was now estranged from her brother.
‘Illicit drug use and addiction are blights on our society,’ she said.
‘The damage they can inflict on and within families is incalculable. I know this from my personal family experience.
‘A member of my family has struggled with drug addiction for many years. As a consequence he has become distanced from members of my family, including me. Drugs destroy relationships, even the closest family bonds. My heart goes out to every family that is afflicted by the devastating consequences of addiction.’
Ms Catley became the first woman in NSW to be appointed as Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism following the state election in 2023.
She was also appointed as Minister for the Hunter in August 2023 following the resignation of Tim Crakanthorp.
