Paris Hilton arrested over cocaine

Socialite Paris Hilton has been arrested on cocaine possession charges after police stopped the car she was in on a Las Vegas street, authorities said.

Hilton was booked into the Clark County Detention Centre on a charge of possession of cocaine, Las Vegas police spokesman Marcus Martin said.

Hilton, 29, was in a car driven by a friend which was stopped when officers noticed what they suspected to be marijuana smoke coming from it, he said.

"Officers noticed a vehicle leaving smoke trail of a controlled substance (and) made a stop based on that," Martin said.

During the stop, officers found what appeared to be a drug on Hilton and later tests showed that it was cocaine, Martin said. He didn't know how much was found.


He said Hilton was apparently recognised by passers-by and a crowd quickly gathered in the area where the vehicle had been pulled over.

Police watch commander Lt Wayne Holman said Hilton was still being held but would probably be freed on her own recognisance later.

Police didn't release the name of the man who was driving the car.

Hilton was arrested this summer after the Brazil-Netherlands World Cup match in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on suspicion of possession of marijuana. The case was then dropped at a midnight court hearing.

Hilton also pleaded no contest in 2007 to alcohol-related reckless driving and was sentenced to 45 days in jail.