The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in New York has raided the homes of Puff Daddy, a black American rapper and actor, over allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking.

Puff Daddy, also known as P Diddy, whose original name is Sean John Combs, is a 54-year-old producer, label executive, and occasional rapper who has been in the music business for over 30 years.

A statement by Homeland Security stated that agents from New York had executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and its local law enforcement partners.

Footage from the New York local news agency shows armed officers entering one of Puff Daddy’s properties in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, which is said to be connected to his company, Bad Boy Entertainment.

Puff Daddy is also being accused of solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, as well as violence, citing unidentified sources.

In November 2024, Puff Daddy was sued by his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, commonly known as Cassie, for sexual assault. Cassie was also signed to his label, Bad Boy.

In her suit, Cassie accused Puff Daddy of forcing her to engage in sexual activity with male prostitutes over a period of years. According to Cassie, those encounters took place in a number of cities across the United States, and she was a victim of sex trafficking.

Ventura’s suit was followed by several more cases, each accusing Puff Daddy of sexual assault, including that of a music producer, Rodney Jones, who said that the rapper had made unwanted sexual contact with him and forced him to hire prostitutes to participate in sex acts with them.

Another victim, identified as Joi Dickerson, said that when she was 19, she was intentionally drugged by Puff Daddy after a date with him.

He then took her home and allegedly raped her. Diddy filmed the assault and showed his friends an issue that led Dickerson into depression and later dropped out of college.

However, Puff Daddy denied the accusations against him, and his private jet left the United States for Cape Verde, a country that lacks an extradition treaty with the US, amid the investigation and raids. Conversely, it hasn’t yet been established whether the rapper is on the plane or not.