Drugs And Gun Found On Nelly's Tour Bus

Officials who searched a tour bus carrying Grammy-winning rapper Nelly found heroin, marijuana and a loaded gun.

The discovery was made during a routine stop at a checkpoint near El Paso, Texas.

"The agent requested all seven occupants out of the bus and conducted an inspection of the vehicle," said Rusty Fleming, of the local sheriff's office, who added that a dog was used to sniff out the drugs. 

"A search produced a small plastic container containing marijuana, 36 small bags containing heroin, and a loaded .45 pistol."

A member of the singer's entourage, Brian Keith Jones, reportedly took responsibility for the illicit items and was arrested while others on the bus, including Nelly, were released.

"It is my understanding a member of my staff made an unfortunate decision to bring unlawful materials onto our tour bus that resulted in his arrest," Nelly said.

"Neither I nor anyone else on the tour bus was aware of his decision to bring these on board."

Later, on Twitter, he said he was "mad as hell" with the man, who he described as someone who works for him and a friend.

The incident took place at the same checkpoint where rapper Snoop Dogg, singer Willie Nelson and actor Armand Hammer have been stopped for possession of controlled substances.

The checkpoint, which is not on the border, is used to check the citizenship status of motorists on Interstate 10, which passes close to Mexico.

Nelly, 37, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes, was born in Austin, Texas.

His hit Hot In Herre won a Grammy award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003, while Shake Ya Tailfeather - a collaboration with Diddy and Murphy Lee - landed him a second Grammy in 2004.