Ex-Syracuse basketball player arrested for ties to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' drug ring

MIAMI (WSTM) — Brendan Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball player, was arrested on drug charges Monday in Miami. The arrest comes a few weeks after a civil lawsuit claimed Paul works as a drug 'mule' for rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Paul, 25, is charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies.

According to Rolling Stone, Paul was arrested by Miami-Dade Police Monday afternoon after finding drugs in his bag while he was at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.

An Ohio native, Paul was a walk-on at Syracuse for his freshman and sophomore seasons, appearing in 17 games for limited minutes. In 2020, he transferred to Fairmount State University in West Virginia, where he played his junior and senior year.

Paul was arrested at approximately the same time Homeland Security agents were raiding properties connected to Combs in relation to an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' homes raided amid sex trafficking allegations

In a lawsuit brought on by Rodney Jones against Combs, he identifies Paul as a “close confidant” of Combs and a “mule” who acquires and distributes drugs, as well as guns, for Combs.

Paul was released from jail on a $2,500 bond according to court records. He is scheduled to appear in Miami-Dade Criminal Court on April 24.

Combs has several sexual assault lawsuits filed against him, according to The Associated Press, including a since-resolved case brought by his ex-girlfriend and R&B singer Cassie, who alleged years of sexual abuse including rape.