Sex slavery & drugs

Raids on the home of US rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs

US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has been targeted by the authorities ...(Bild: AFP, APA/AFP/ANGELA WEISS)

Allegations of human trafficking and sex slavery - US investigators have raided the homes of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs ("Bad Boy for Life", "I'll Be Missing You") in the states of California and Florida. The rapper has been the subject of serious allegations of sexual violence in recent months.

At the request of US broadcaster CNN, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) confirmed the raids in Los Angeles and Miami on Monday. No background information was provided.

Sexual harassment and heavily drugged
Producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who worked with Combs on his Grammy-nominated record "The Love Album: Off the Grid", filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New York in February. He accuses the 54-year-old of sexually harassing, drugging and threatening him over a period of more than a year.

Dozens of police officers gathered at Combs' property.(Bild: AFP)

Rapper on accusations: "Lies!"
Combs, one of the most successful representatives of the hip-hop industry, who is also active as a record producer, actor and in other business fields, had the allegations rejected as lies by his legal team.

(Bild: AP)

In December 2023, an unnamed woman filed a lawsuit accusing Combs and two other men of drugging and raping her as a 17-year-old in the rapper's New York studio in 2003.

Ex-girlfriend accused him of sex slavery
Three women had previously filed civil lawsuits against Combs, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie, who had accused the rapper of sexual abuse, rape, intimidation and physical violence during their relationship. She had been heavily drugged and forced to have sex with prostitutes hired by "Diddy". Combs reached a settlement with Cassie in November.

Combs with ex-girlfriend Cassie(Bild: APA/AFP/ANGELA WEISS)

"Reprehensible behavior"
Douglas Wigdor, the lawyer for Cassie and another, unnamed woman, reacted to the raid reports on Monday with a statement, which was made available to the German Press Agency. In it, he expressed the hope that Combs would be held responsible for his "reprehensible behavior".