OJ Simpson denies drug involvement after dawn raid

OJ Simpson today denied he was involved in drugs or money-laundering after a dawn raid by police investigating an ecstasy ring.

The former American footballer, who was cleared of murdering his ex-wife and her friend after a controversial Los Angeles trial, was not arrested when his Florida home was searched by dozens of investigators.

Local police, the FBI and the Drugs Enforcement Agency arrived at his home near Miami with a search warrant before dawn and were met by Simpson, who was wearing just a bathrobe.

During the search, the detectives seized satellite dishes from the house, where he lives with his two children, but removed nothing else.

FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said the house was hit along with nine others as part of Operation X, a two-year long drugs and money probe which also saw two people being arrested in Chicago.

Ms Orihuela said the drugs ring being investigated imported ecstasy from the Netherlands and stole equipment used to counterfeit cards that activate satellite television receivers as part of their money-laundering system.

Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, tonight denied the controversial ex-American footballer was involved in any illegal activity.

‘‘Mr Simpson is not a money launderer,’’ said Mr Galanter.

‘‘There were no, and I repeat, no ecstasy pills found in Mr Simpson’s property or on his automobile or on his person.

‘‘He has never been and never will be involved in any type of illegal drug use, dealing or sale.’’

Mr Galanter admitted Simpson’s satellite dishes were taken by the detectives.

‘‘Mr Simpson does have a number of satellite television dishes that he brought from California,’’ said the lawyer.

‘‘They were taken and I assume they are being analysed by the FBI. Normally, we do not have 30 or 40 FBI and DEA agents to search for satellite dishes.

‘‘The agents that were here were part of an ongoing Colombian drug task force.’’

Mr Galanter claimed his client’s name had emerged in a phone conversation involving other people which was being tapped by the FBI.

‘‘OJ’s name came up on a tape of someone else who was the focus of the investigation,’’ he said.

The incident is the second brush with the law for Simpson since he moved to Kendall, 15 miles from Miami, last year.

In October, he was cleared of a road-rage attack on another driver after an incident at a cross road.

Simpson moved to Florida after being ordered by a civil court to pay £24m for the deaths of ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman when their families sued him for causing their wrongful death.