Federal agents conducted raids on properties associated with rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs on Monday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The raids took place in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami as part of an ongoing investigation. In Los Angeles and Miami, two properties were searched as part of this probe.

While officials did not disclose the specific reasons for the raids or their connection to Mr. Combs, representatives for the hip-hop icon did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC on Monday.

Recent lawsuits have accused Mr. Combs of sexual misconduct, which his attorneys have consistently denied. Notably, Homeland Security Investigations agents were conducting operations in a 17,000 square foot mansion where Mr. Combs announced his latest album release last September.

This mansion, located in the affluent Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills, is associated with Mr. Combs' Bad Boy Films production company and is frequented by celebrities, including being close to the Playboy Mansion.

According to two law enforcement officials speaking to the Associated Press, the raids were linked to an ongoing s*x trafficking investigation, although the BBC has not independently verified this claim.

Last year, R&B singer Cassie, formerly Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit in New York federal court against Mr. Combs, her former partner from 2005 to 2018, alleging years of abuse. She later settled the lawsuit.

Following this, two other women came forward with their own lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, with another man also accusing Mr. Combs of sexual misconduct.

Douglas Wigdor, lawyer for Ms Ventura and another alleged victim, said on Monday that his clients supported the law enforcement efforts.

"Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr Combs responsible for his depraved conduct," Mr Wigdor said in a statement.

Mr Combs remains one of the most influential and significant hip-hop producers of the past several decades.

He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and is a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with A-list artists like Usher and Mary J Blige.

Noted