DIDDY’S SAGA TOUCHES CARIB
Two Caribbean tourist nations are being mentioned in the federal investigations regarding Hip Hop Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs following raids by Homeland Security agents of his homes on both the East and West coasts of the US this week.
The Antigua and The Bahamas are the nations in play with Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne being forced to deny domestic and international media reports that Combs had made a successful dash to the Eastern Caribbean island, escaping federal agents as they raided his Los Angeles home.
Speculation was rife in Antigua on Monday and Tuesday primarily because of the fact that a Gulfstream 5 private jet linked to Combs had landed at the VC Bird International Airport late Monday and had remained parked there up to midweek.
FILE – Sean “Diddy” Combs, wearing a fur coat, walks down the sideline during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks, Sunday, March 12, 2017, in New York. AP Photo/Kathy Willens, file
Various media reports did confirm that Combs was on the island, but clearly wary of the unwanted attention to the island, PM Browne moved to assure the international community that Combs was not on the island in any way, shape or form.
“There is no credible information that he is here. To the contrary, he did not arrive on the flight yesterday to Antigua,” Browne said in a message to the media. The aircraft remains parked on a ramp at the airport with locals and tourists gawking at the plane, speculating that it was used as a decoy to fool agents as raids were under way at the two properties.
American reports say that Combs had cancelled the Bahamas trip and was spotted in South Florida at the Opa Locka Executive Airport. American media reports, meanwhile, had suggested that Combs and his twin daughters Jessie and D’Lila were headed on a spring break vacation to The Bahamas but had to cancel because of the latest developments.
Two of his sons were reportedly arrested and are assisting investigators with the case, allegedly linked to human trafficking and related accusations.Combs has been embroiled in a series of controversies in recent months including the widely reported incident involving ex-girlfriend and singer, Cassie, who had accused him of a series of indecent acts and sexual abuse. He settled with her.
Several others including a male music associate have also hurled similar accusations. In a statement, Homeland Security said 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 our local law enforcement partners.”
