Who is Brendan Paul? Diddy’s alleged ‘drug mule’ arrested at Miami airport has music, sports background

Steve Helling, Selim Algar, Alyssa Guzman
·3 min read
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Brendan Paul in all. Upper right, playing basketball at Syracuse University. Producing for Diddy, lower right. Him with Diddy, inset.
Brendan Paul in all. Upper right, playing basketball at Syracuse University. Producing for Diddy, lower right. Him with Diddy, inset.
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The man arrested on drug charges at a Miami airport as he attempted to board a private jet with Diddy is a 25-year-old basketball player from Ohio.

Brendan Paul is an amateur music producer and graduate of Fairmont State University in West Virginia — but he has also been accused of being a “drug mule” for Diddy, his employer, in a federal lawsuit filed against the rap mogul.

Paul was taken into custody Monday at Opa Locka Airport after federal agents intercepted Diddy’s plane, which he was about to board.

He was booked on once count of possession of suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana candy according to an arrest report obtained by The Post. Both charges are felonies in Florida.

Brendan Paul has been accused of being a “drug mule” for Diddy, his employer, according to a lawsuit filed against him. Facebook/Curt Paul
Brendan Paul has been accused of being a “drug mule” for Diddy, his employer, according to a lawsuit filed against him. Facebook/Curt Paul
He is also an amateur music producer, who worked with Diddy on his The Love Album. Facebook/Brendan Paul
He is also an amateur music producer, who worked with Diddy on his The Love Album. Facebook/Brendan Paul

The six-foot Ohioan has been bailed out of jail, the report stated. The drugs found in his bag Monday have not been linked to Diddy, nor was he arrested.

Paul is originally from Shaker Heights, Ohio, and still resides in the state according to the police report, which lists his current address in Chagrin Falls near Cleveland.

He lives with his parents, Curt and Mary Jo inside their $829,000 four-bed, six-bath home.

Paul attended a private boarding school in New England, Brewster Academy, for the first three years of high school, before transferring to Hawken High, a private day school in Ohio for his senior year.

Paul played basketball Syracuse University from 2018 to 2020 (pictured). He then transferred to Fairmont State University, where he also played. Getty Images
Paul played basketball Syracuse University from 2018 to 2020 (pictured). He then transferred to Fairmont State University, where he also played. Getty Images

Paul went on to attend Syracuse University in New York for his freshmen and sophomore years, before transferring to Fairmont State University for his final two years.

He played Division I school basketball from 2018 to 2020 before transferring to the Division II team in 2020, playing an average of under 10 minutes per game.

As his basketball career didn’t take off, he became an amateur music producer during the pandemic. He “started making beats from my laptop,” according to a 2020 Facebook post.

He eventually began to produce for Diddy on The Love Album, which was released in September.

Paul started producing music during the pandemic and worked on Diddy’s latest album, which was released in September 2023. Brendan Paul/Facebook
Paul started producing music during the pandemic and worked on Diddy’s latest album, which was released in September 2023. Brendan Paul/Facebook
Paul was named as a mule in Rodney Jones’ complaint against Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs. Jones alleges that Paul “handles, acquires and distributes” Diddy’s guns and drugs, according to the lawsuit. Brendan Paul/Facebook
Paul was named as a mule in Rodney Jones’ complaint against Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs. Jones alleges that Paul “handles, acquires and distributes” Diddy’s guns and drugs, according to the lawsuit. Brendan Paul/Facebook

The young producer posted a photo of him and Diddy in the studio while working on the album to commemorate the achievement on Facebook.

He also posted photos of the album release party, which featured romantic red rose pedals on the table and “love-inspired” drinks.

Paul also posted of a photo of Combs’ private all-black G550 Gulfstream jet to his social media in October, calling his time with the artist “visceral.”

Paul also posted of a photo of Combs’ private all-black jet to his social media in October, calling his time with the artist “visceral.” Facebook/Brendan Paul
Paul also posted of a photo of Combs’ private all-black jet to his social media in October, calling his time with the artist “visceral.” Facebook/Brendan Paul

Following Paul’s arrest, Diddy was seen stressfully pacing outside the Opa Locka airport Miami airport Monday afternoon.

Diddy — who has an estimated net worth of $1 billion — had his Beverly Hills and Miami homes raided by Homeland Security agents on Monday, with computer equipment and other evidence confiscated from the houses.

The raid is part of a federal sex-trafficking investigation, according to law enforcement.

Diddy has denied all allegations against him, with a lawyer for him on Tuesday calling it a “witch hunt”.

“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated,” attorney Aaron Dyer said in a statement.