Sean 'Diddy' Combs' alleged 'drug mule' arrested amid property raids
The alleged drug mule of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested at the Miami airport on charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana.
NBC News reported that Brendan Paul, a 25-year-old former university basketball player, was arrested earlier this week at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport due to possession of suspected cocaine and “marijuana candy.”
Paul was included in the civil lawsuit filed by producer Rodney Jones, also known as “Lil Rod,” who accused the former of working for the hip-hop mogul from November 2022 to September 2023 to “acquire” and “distribute” Diddy’s guns and drugs.
Paul was released on Tuesday at a $2,500 bond (around P140,000). A hearing on his case is set for April 24.
His attorney Brian Bieber, however, told the press, “We do not plan on trying this case in the media—all issues will be dealt with in court."
This came amid the Miami-Dade police raid at Diddy’s properties in Miami and Los Angeles as part of the ongoing investigation on his sex trafficking case.
Diddy's lawyer, Aaron Dyer, condemned the raids, claiming they are part of a "witch hunt based on meritless accusations."
“There was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr Combs' residences," Dyer told US media.
“This unprecedented ambush—with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits," he continued.
Diddy was sued by former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, who was signed to his Bad Boy label. In the suit, she alleged that he forced her to perform sexual acts with multiple men over a number of years in cities across the US.
The case has been settled, though it was followed by more complaints, including one in December by a woman who accused Combs of gang-raping her with other men when she was 17.
In February, Jones filed a case against the hip-hop mogul alleging that "he was sexually harassed, drugged, and threatened by him for over a year."
Diddy, through his lawyer, denied the accusations.
“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name," said Dyer.