Rapper Lil Wayne again arrested on drug charges

Hip-hop star Lil' Wayne has been arrested and charged with three felony drug counts after he was nabbed early Wednesday by federal drug agents near Yuma, Arizona. The rapper was booked on three felony counts for possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of narcotics.

According to the authorities, Wayne was arrested when his charter bus was stopped at a California-Arizona border checkpoint. Border patrol agents stopped the rapper’s bus, with 12 people on board, at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday after a dog alerted them to possible drugs on board.

After searching Wayne’s bus, the patrol agents found nearly four ounces of marijuana, more than an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstacy and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. The agents also found $22,000 in cash on the bus, said Ramona Sanchez, spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

He was being booked into the Yuma County Jail on a $10,185 bond.

"Mr. Carter is in our custody at this time," said Yuma County Chief Deputy Major Leon Wilmot. "But the arrest was performed by another agency. It was a DEA arrest."

Two other members of Wayne's entourage, Curtis Stewart and Harold Johnson, were arrested for marijuana possession following the search.

This is not the first time Wayne is in legal trouble. He was arrested back in Idaho in October 2007 for possession of drugs, and in July 2006 in New York for possession of a handgun.

On August 14, 2006, the 25-year rapper was arrested in Atlanta for possessing illegal substances. He was apprehended on possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and possession of more than 100 Xanax and hydrocodone pills.

"We will find out by Jan. 25 whether or not the (Yuma) county attorney will file charges or not," an attorney hired by Wayne said. "He is looking forward to his day in court. That’s all I can say right now."

Born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., on September 27, 1979, in New Orleans, LA, Lil Wayne began his industry ascendance as one of the Hot Boys, a short-lived Cash Money Records all-star group, and after establishing himself as a successful solo artist, he grew to become a critical favorite, known especially for his entertaining underground mixtapes.

Lil Wayne married Antonia "Toya" Carter on 14 February 2004 when he was 21. Together they had a daughter named Reginae Carter. He named her after his step father Reginald "Rabbit" Carter. They separated in 2006. Lil Wayne has been romantically linked to Nivea, Trina, and Karrine Steffans.

He drew media attention with leaked picture of himself and Bryan "Baby" Williams kissing which later was explained as a kiss between father-son. Wayne said the kiss was not an intimate one and Williams claimed it was a "black variation" of Mafia affection.