Diddy’s alleged drug ‘mule’ arrested at Florida airport amid raids at rapper’s homes

MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) — A known associate of Sean “Diddy” Combs and former Syracuse basketball player was arrested at a Florida airport Monday as federal agents raided the music mogul’s Miami and Los Angeles mansions.

A civil lawsuit obtained by WFLA alleges Combs “operated a criminal enterprise that included sex trafficking,” the illegal distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms. Brendan Paul, 25, is accused of being a “mule” for the rapper’s drugs and guns, according to the suit.

Federal agents raid Diddy’s Florida mansion as part of sex trafficking probe: reports

Paul was arrested at Opa-locka Airport on Monday for carrying cocaine and marijuana-laced candy, an affidavit from the Miami-Dade Police shows. He is facing charges of possessing cocaine and a controlled substance.

Video from TMZ reportedly shows Diddy pacing around the Opa-locka Executive Airport in Miami just hours after the bi-coastal federal raids began.

Homeland Security executed search warrants at Diddy’s homes as part of an “ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York,” the Associated Press reported. It’s unclear if Diddy was the target of the investigation.

In a civil lawsuit, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who worked for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023, alleged Combs “sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for more than a year.”

Jones alleged he had video and audio evidence of Combs, his staff, and others “engaging in serious illegal activity.” The lawsuit contains photos of the 25-year-old holding pill bottles while on Diddy’s yacht on Dec. 25, 2022.

Paul, who played basketball for Syracuse in 2019, bonded out of jail Tuesday morning, NBC affiliate WTVJ reported.

What we know about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ location during federal raids

Aerial footage from Monday’s raids showed federal agents at Diddy’s homes on Miami’s exclusive Star Island. WTVJ said agents were walking through the multi-million dollar home with paper bags and walking out of the home with multiple boxes and laptops. Authorities said several phones and guns were among the items seized.

In a statement to NewsNation’s Brian Entin Tuesday, Diddy’s lawyer, Aaron Dyer, called the raids a “witch hunt” and an “overuse of military-level force.”

“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. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way. This unprecedented ambush — paired 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. 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,” the statement read.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.