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Drug Dog At Miami's Port Led To Big Boi's Arrest

MIAMI (CBS4) – OutKast rapper Big Boi can thank a dog for his short stint in jail on Sunday after he was charged with drug possession.

The Grammy award-winning singer, whose real name is Antwan Patton, was returning from a cruise when a specially trained K9 'alerted' to the scent of drugs on him.  When U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents patted down the 36-year old Patton they allegedly found Ecstasy, Viagra pills and a cigarette roller with marijuana residue. Patton was also accused of carrying MDMA, which is the main ingredient in Ecstasy.

Patton was booked into the county jail just after 1:30 p.m. on three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail was listed at $16,000.

He posted bond and was released on bail before 5 p.m. He did not say a word to reporters waiting outside the jail for a comment.

Monday on Patton's Twitter page, a post from someone who claims to be his attorney said "While Big Boi was traveling with his group and friends, a small amount of contraband was found in the collective luggage."   A second post from the 'attorney' said ""I am confident when the entire facts are aired, Big Boi will be completely exonerated."

Patton will be arraigned on September 6th.

Big Boi is best known as half of the groundbreaking rap duo OutKast, which includes Andre 3000. The Atlanta-based group won six Grammys and churned out six platinum-plus albums, including their "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," which sold over 10 million copies.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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